Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Only randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were eligible for inclusion in the review.
Specific interventions included in the review
Inclusion criteria for the intervention were not stated. The included studies assessed paroxetine, fluoxetine, sertraline and venlafaxine, compared with placebo or with tricyclic antidepressants (imipramine).
Participants included in the review
Inclusion criteria for the participants were not stated. However, it is clear that studies of children with depression were eligible for inclusion in the review. The participants in the included studies were aged from 6 to 20 years.
Outcomes assessed in the review
Inclusion criteria for the outcomes were not stated. The outcomes reported in the review were the adverse effects of treatment, and study withdrawals and scores on the revised children's depression rating scale (from one study only). The outcomes reported in the included studies were:
global (clinical global impression score, response, children's global assessment scale);
depression (children's depression rating scale-revised, remission, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Raskin depression scale, children's depression inventory, schedule for affective disorders and schizophrenia for adolescents);
anxiety (Covi anxiety scale, multidimensional anxiety scale for children);
brief psychiatric rating scale for children;
child behaviour checklist;
self-perception profile;
autonomous function checklist;
sickness impact scale;
paediatric quality of life enjoyment and satisfaction;
Weinberg screening assessment scale; and
Hopkins symptom checklist.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
The authors did not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many reviewers performed the selection.