METHODS

Data sources:

Cochrane Collaboration Depression, Anxiety, and Neurosis Controlled Trials register (December 2002), Cochrane Library, reference lists of identified studies, other relevant papers, and major textbooks.

Study selection and assessment:

randomised, controlled, double blind trials published in any language that compared antidepressants with placebo or alternative drugs (ie, mood stabilisers, anticonvulsants, or other antidepressants) in patients with a current depressive or mixed depressive/manic episode with or without psychotic symptoms who had had ⩾1 previous episode of mania or hypomania. Quality of studies was assessed.

Outcomes:

clinical response and remission rates (observer rated symptom …