The U.S. Department of Justice filed civil charges Wednesday alleging that Forest Laboratories Inc. (FRX) improperly marketed two of its antidepressant drugs for use in children and paid kickbacks to encourage doctors to prescribe the drugs.

The government's legal complaint, filed in a Massachusetts federal court, alleges that Forest misled doctors and consumers by failing to disclose a medical study that determined the company's antidepressant drugs were ineffective for pediatric use.

Despite the negative study, Forest promoted its antidepressant drugs Celexa and Lexapro for use with children, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors also alleged that Forest lavished doctors with cash payments, expensive meals and other valuables to induce them to prescribe its antidepressant drugs Celexa and Lexapro.

-By Brent Kendall, Dow Jones Newswires; 202-862-9222; brent.kendall@dowjones.com