Zanardi 2000.

Study characteristics
Methods	Randomised, double‐blind comparison
Participants	Unclear diagnosing procedure DSM‐IV criteria; psychotic depressive episode No HRSD criteria described at inclusion Inpatients No data about prior treatment for current episode
Interventions	Venlafaxine vs fluvoxamine Dose: 300 mg vs 300 mg from day 8 Blood levels: unknown Additional medication: flurazepam < 30 mg 1 week medication free (single‐blind placebo period) Treatment period: 5 weeks
Outcomes	Dichotomous data: study author defined: response is HRSD‐21 < 9 + DDERS (Dimensions of Delusional Experience RS) = 0. Remission data not specified Continuous data: symptom reduction: no ITT data; global response: no ITT data; QOL: no data Overall dropout rate: yes Dropout due to adverse effects: same as overall dropout rate Mortality rate: 0
Notes	We used additional data from the study author to exclude bipolar participants from analysis Included 22 participants with major depressive disorder (MDD) with psychotic features. Responders in venlafaxine group 6/11 MDD. Responders fluvoxamine group 9/11 MDD. No dropouts in fluvoxamine group. 2 dropouts in venlafaxine group
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	As reported: "randomization was performed by a computer‐generated schedule"
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Randomisation method not described Blinding not explicitly described. No data
Blinding (performance bias and detection bias) of participants	Unclear risk	As reported: "patients were randomly assigned" "Double‐blind controlled study"
Blinding (performance bias and detection bias) of personnel	Unclear risk	"Double‐blind controlled study", but unclear whether double‐blind includes personnel
Blinding (performance bias and detection bias) of outcome assessors	Low risk	As reported: "raters were blind to treatment"
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	None
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Unclear risk	No protocol available. Generally accepted outcomes have been used
Other bias	Unclear risk	We re‐analysed the data by excluding bipolar participants with additional data from study author

DSM: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

HRSD/HAM‐D: Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression.

ITT: intention‐to‐treat.

LOCF: last observation carried forward.

MDD: major depressive disorder.

mg: milligram.

mL: millilitre.

ng: nanogram.

QOL: quality of life.