4. Studies with tapering, included in comparison 2.

Study ID	Study design	Duration of AD treatment before randomisation	Inclusion criteria age	Main disorder	Duration of trial	Number	Intervention 1	Duration of tapering	Intervention 2	Co‐intervention
Bialos 1982	RCT	3.7 years (0.5 to 8)	NR	history of MDD	24 weeks	19	taper to placebo	3 weeks	continuation ‐ amitriptyline
Bockting 2018	RCT	≥ 24 weeks	NR	in remission of MDD > 2 months and ≤ 2 years for ≥ 2 previous depressive episodes in the past 5 years	104 weeks	146 (intervention group split to allow multiple‐arm comparisons)	taper to "no placebo"	4 weeks or longer (and within 24 weeks)	continuation ‐ different classes	PCT
Cook 1986	RCT	12 to 192 months	NR	MDD and treated with a TCA for a year without evidence of reoccurrence of depressive symptoms warranting a change in therapy	28 weeks	18	taper to placebo	4 or 8 weeks	continuation ‐ TCA
Derubeis 2019	2‐phase RCT	mean 80.3 (40) weeks	≥ 18 years	MDD either chronic (episode duration ≥ 2 years) or recurrent (with an episode in the past 3 years if only the second episode)	156 weeks	137	taper to "no placebo"	4 weeks or longer if clinically indicated (not specified)	continuation ‐ different classes
Derubeis 2019	2‐phase RCT	mean 80.3 (40) weeks	≥ 18 years	MDD either chronic (episode duration ≥ 2 years) or recurrent (with an episode in the past 3 years if only the second episode)	156 weeks	155	taper to "no placebo"	4 weeks or longer if clinically indicated (not specified)	continuation ‐ different classes	CBT prerandomisation
Huijbers 2016	RCT	≥ 24 weeks	≥ 18 years	history of ≥ 3 depressive episodes and in full or partial remission	65 weeks	249	taper to "no placebo"	5 weeks	continuation ‐ different classes	MBCT
Keller 1998	3‐phase RCT	28 weeks	NR	chronic MDD of 2 years' duration or dysthymic disorder with concurrent diagnosis of MDD (double depression)	76 weeks	161	taper to placebo	4 weeks	continuation ‐ sertraline
Keller 2007	4‐phase RCT	86 weeks	≥ 18 years	recurrent depression: history of ≥ 3 episodes of major depression	52 weeks	83	taper to placebo	4 weeks	continuation ‐ venlafaxine ER
Khan 2014	2‐phase RCT	24 weeks	≥ 18 years	single or recurrent MDD	4 weeks	176 (control group split to allow multiple‐arm comparisons)	taper to placebo	1 week	continuation ‐ desvenlafaxine
Kocsis 1996	2‐phase RCT	26 to 28 weeks	NR	pure dysthymia, double depression, chronic major depression	104 weeks	53	tapering to placebo	4 weeks	continuation ‐ desipramine
Kocsis 2007	3‐phase RCT	34 weeks	≥18 years	recurrent depression (DSM‐IV criteria): history of ≥ 3 episodes of major depression	52 weeks	336	tapering to placebo	4 weeks	continuation ‐ venlafaxine
Kupfer 1992	RCT	3 years	21 to 65 years	≥ 3 episodes unipolar depression	104 weeks	20	tapering to placebo	3 weeks	continuation ‐ imipramine	IPT
Mavissakalian 1999	2‐phase RCT	24 weeks	NR	panic disorder with agoraphobia	52 weeks	56	tapering to placebo	3 weeks	continuation ‐ imipramine
Mavissakalian 2001	3‐phase RCT	76 weeks	NR	panic disorder with agoraphobia	52 weeks	11	tapering to placebo	3 weeks	continuation ‐ imipramine
Montgomery 2004	3‐phase RCT	24 weeks	≥ 18 years	recurrent major depression (≥ 1 previous episode in the last 5 years)	2 weeks	235	tapering to placebo	2 weeks	continuation ‐ venlafaxine IR
Perahia 2009	3‐phase RCT	28 to 34 weeks	≥ 18 years	recurrent major depression (≥ 3 episodes of depressive disorder)	52 weeks	288	tapering to placebo	4 weeks	continuation ‐ duloxetine
Rickels 2010	2‐phase RCT	24 weeks	≥ 18 years	generalised anxiety disorder	24 weeks	136	tapering to placebo	4 weeks	continuation ‐ venlafaxine
Rickels 2010	3‐phase RCT	48 weeks	≥ 18 years	generalised anxiety disorder	24 weeks	59	tapering to placebo	4 weeks	continuation ‐ venlafaxine
Segal 2010;	3‐phase RCT	28 weeks	between 18 and 65 years	MDD in remission and ≥ 2 previous episodes	76 weeks	44 (control group split to allow multiple‐arm comparisons)	tapering to placebo	4 weeks	continuation ‐ different types
Stewart 1997	3‐phase RCT	30 weeks	NR	MDD, dysthymia, or both ≥ 2 years and definite or probable atypical depression	24 weeks	32	tapering to placebo	2 weeks	continuation ‐ imipramine
Stewart 1997	3‐phase RCT	30 weeks	NR	MDD, dysthymia, or both ≥ 2 years and definite or probable atypical depression	24 weeks	28	tapering to placebo	2 weeks	continuation ‐ phenelzine

AD: antidepressant.

CBT: cognitive‐behavioural therapy.

IPT: interpersonal therapy.

NR: not reported.

MBCT: mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy.

MDD: major depressive disorder.

PCT: preventive cognitive therapy.

RCT: randomised controlled trial.