The purpose of this study is to explore the changes in metabolic parameters in patients treated with escitalopram for six months for major depression, generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder, with or without agoraphobia.

This is an open-label study, with 4 scheduled visits. Recruitment of 100 subjects. Assessments include demographics, diagnosis, smoking frequency, Clinical Global Scale (CGI-S), weight, height,blood pressure, waist and hip circumference and fasting blood glucose and lipd profile.

Statistical analysis will be exploratory and mainly descriptive.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Give informed consent
• Requires pharmacological treatment with escitalopram for major depression, generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder
• Aged 21 years old and above
• Able to comprehend and comply with protocol
• Not pregnant and if of child-bearing age, using adequate methods of contraception

Exclusion Criteria:

• Currently taking or has taken in previous 3 months, any other antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, weight loss or lipid-profile modifying drugs
• Contraindications to escitalopram
• Unstable medical illness and/or is already under treatment of diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, ischemic heart disease
• History of non-response to escitalopram
• Meets IDF definition of metabolic syndrome
• Significant risk of suicide
• Primary diagnosis or comorbid diagnosis of psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, substance dependence and/or dementia

Outpatients in psychiatric clinic in a general hosptial