Escitalopram (Lexapro) for Depression MS or ALS

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients between 18 and 70 years of age with documented ALS or MS,
DSM-IV episode of non-psychotic Major Depression,
≥14 score on the 17-item HAM-D,
Ability to give informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

History of psychotic disorders,
Psychotic depression,
Bipolar depression,
Suicide risk,
History of substance abuse in the previous 6 months,
History of unstable medical disorders,
Pregnancy or planning for pregnancy,
Severity of ALS or MS that limits participating in the study protocol.