Brain Energy Metabolism in Individuals With Major Depressive Disorder Receiving Escitalopram

Inclusion Criteria

For depressed subjects:

• Meets DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder
• Score of greater than 16 on the Hamilton Depression Rating scale (17 items) at study entry
• Agrees to use an effective form of contraception throughout the study

For healthy volunteers:

• Not currently taking any medications
• No lifetime history of major neurological, medical, psychiatric disorder, or head injury
• Agrees to use an effective form of contraception throughout the study

Exclusion Criteria

• Current suicidal ideation that may make study participation unsafe
• Current serious or unstable medical illness (e.g., cardiovascular, kidney, liver, respiratory, endocrine, neurologic, or blood-related disease)
• History of seizure disorder
• History of or current DSM-IV diagnosis of any of the following psychiatric illnesses within 12 months of study entry: organic mental disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder, psychotic disorders not otherwise specified, bipolar disorder, mood congruent or mood incongruent psychotic features, substance dependence disorders (including alcohol)
• History of or current diagnosis of dementia, or a score of less than 26 on the Mini Mental Status Examination at screening
• History of multiple adverse drug reactions or allergic reaction to the study drugs
• Currently taking psychotropic drugs or antidepressant medications
• Clinical or laboratory evidence of hypothyroidism
• Failure to respond during current major depressive episode to at least one adequate antidepressant trial, defined as 6 weeks or more of treatment with 40 mg of citalopram per day (or its antidepressant equivalent)
• History of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) within the 6 months prior to study entry
• Pregnant
• Subjects with a CGI score a 6 ("severely depressed") or 7 ("among the most extremely depressed patients")
• A BMI of 39 or greater, for comfort in scanner