Randomization and blinding
RECRUITMENT, BLIND
Eligible participants were randomized to one of the three treatments on a 1:1:1 basis via remote access to a central randomization procedure hosted by the Clinical Trial Center of SMHC. Study site was used as a stratified factor for stratified block randomization, and each site competed to enroll patients. Allocation of patients was performed by a research assistant who was not involved in recruitment and study assessments. The primary outcome was the HAMD administered by independent assessors who were blind to treatment allocation. Patients were asked not to divulge their assigned treatment during the evaluations. The principal researchers and statisticians were also blind to allocation of treatment.