Pinard 1972.

Methods	Allocation: random. Blinding: double. Duration: 70 days (preceded by 21 days where all had chlorpromazine 100 mg/day). Setting: inpatient, St‐Jean‐de‐Dieu Hospital, Research Unit, Montréal, Canada. Design: parallel (5 groups), single centre.
Participants	Diagnosis: chronic schizophrenia, BPRS average ˜45. N = 80 *(n = 48 included in the analysis ‐ see interventions). Age: range 20‐60 years. Sex: "equally represented". Ethnicity: not stated. History: not stated. Included: hospitalised > 2 years; no exacerbation in last year. Excluded: not stated. Consent: not stated.
Interventions	1. Trifluoperazine: dose 5 mg/three times daily, n = 14. 2. Trifluoperazine: dose 15 mg/day, n = 15. 3. Placebo: n = 14. *(4. Pimozide: dose 3 mg/day, n = 16 ‐ this group was not included in the analysis). *(5. Pimozide: dose 6 mg/day, n = 15 ‐ this group was not included in the analysis). Chlorpromazine, methyprylon, benztropine as required.
Outcomes	Mental state: clinically significant response in psychotic symptoms (defined as 'psychotic set‐backs and suicidal thoughts'). Leaving the study early: for any reason; due to adverse effects (including psychotic setback and suicidal thoughts). Unable to use ‐ Mental state: BPRS ‐ no usable ('P' values only). Extrapyramidal adverse effects: BPS ‐ treatment effect on EPS symptoms rating scale ‐ no usable data (graph only). Behaviour: NOSIE ‐ no usable data (graph only). Insight scale: Echelle D'Autocritique (only correlations).
Notes
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Randomised ‐ matched for symptom severity (BPRS), ward, attending physician and their evaluator (p22).
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	No description.
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	Double ‐ quote, “at all times, the double blind technique was respected” (p23). It is unclear who administered the rating scales used at different intervals throughout the study period.
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	Follow‐up ‐ 93%. Six participants left the study early due to psychotic set‐backs, suicidal thoughts and acute cholecystitis. Unsure if included in analysis ‐ ITT unclear.
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	High risk	Statistical reporting was incomplete for all scale data (no SDs). Covariance analysis was used rather than the BPRS as originally stated in the protocol, which was said to be 'ineffective in revealing significant differences' due to drop‐outs.
Other bias	Unclear risk	Funding: not stated. Rating scales: not stated to be independent of treatment.