A client suffering from depression presents to the healthcare setting for pharmacologic treatment. Which of the following medications would be considered the first-line treatment for depression?

A. Risperidone is an atypical antipsychotic primarily used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, not first-line treatment for depression. B. Haloperidol is a typical antipsychotic used mainly for acute psychosis and agitation, not for treating depression. C. Paroxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that is widely recognized as a first-line treatment for depression due to its efficacy and relatively favorable side effect profile. D. Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic reserved for treatment-resistant schizophrenia and is not indicated for the treatment of depression.