Table 1

Selection criteria for title/abstract screening

Study typeCriteria
Studies eligible for full-text screeningExclusion criteria:
  1. Study is not a clinical trial for ALS.

  2. Study is not randomised.

  3. Intervention is not a pharmaceutical drug, cell therapy, or supplement.

  4. Study does not report clinical efficacy outcomes.

  5. Study is not the primary report of the trial (ie, a post hoc analysis).

  6. The randomised period is shorter than 12 weeks.

  7. Randomised population consists of fewer than 20 patients.

  8. Study has a deviating design (fully open-label, cross-over, historically controlled).

  9. Patient enrolment started before 1999.

  10. Study is a phase I or IV trial.

Systematic reviewsInclusion criteria:
  1. Study is a systematic review for ALS.

  2. Study summarises clinical trial evidence of disease-modifying therapies.

  • ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.