The Safety and Efficacy of Escitalopram in Pediatric Patients With Major Depressive Disorder

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient must meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV)diagnostic criteria for Major Depressive Disorder.

• Patient's current depressive episode must be at least 12 weeks in duration

• Patient must have a parent or caregiver who must agree to accompany the patient to allclinic visits.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who currently meet DSM-IV criteria for:

1. attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder

2. obsessive-compulsive disorder

3. posttraumatic stress disorder

4. bipolar disorder

5. pervasive developmental disorder

6. mental retardation

7. conduct disorder

8. oppositional defiant disorder

• Patients who are considered a suicide risk (have active suicidal ideation), who havemade a suicide attempt, or who have ever been hospitalized because of a suicideattempt.