Table 1 Details of the trials and the nested qualitative studies

1

Assess the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a facilitated physical activity intervention plus usual care, versus usual care alone, for patients with a new episode of depression

Patients randomised to receive a physical activity intervention plus usual care or usual care alone

The physical activity intervention was delivered by physical activity facilitators. It consisted of a maximum of 13 sessions; one 1-h face-to-face session, two 45-minute face-to-face sessions and ten 10- to 20-minute telephone sessions.

Thirty-three trial participants interviewed at 4 months post-randomisation, having completed their primary outcome measures for the trial. Nineteen had been randomised to facilitated activity plus usual care, the rest to usual care only. Twenty-one of the 33 were interviewed again 9 months later.

2

Examine the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of CBT plus usual care, versus usual care alone, for patients with treatment-resistant depression

Participants randomised to face-to-face CBT plus usual care or usual care only

Face-to-Face CBT was delivered by CBT therapists. Patients were allowed up to eighteen 1-h sessions.

Forty trial participants were interviewed 6 months post-randomisation, having completed their primary outcome measures for the trial. Twenty-six had been randomised to CBT plus usual care and 14 to usual care only.

3

Evaluate the clinical effectiveness of antidepressants compared with general supportive care, and to evaluate the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of antidepressants compared with listening visits as an initial treatment for post-natal depression

Participants randomised to antidepressants or listening visits but could ‘cross’ treatment arms after 4 weeks post-randomisation

Listening visits were delivered by research health visitors. The visits lasted 1-h each. Women were allowed up to eight visits in total.

Twenty-seven trial participants were interviewed at 44 weeks post-randomisation, having received treatment in the trial. Seventeen had been randomised to initially receive listening visits, and ten had been allocated to initially receive antidepressants.