An Eight-Week Study Evaluating the Efficacy and Tolerability of Two Doses of SSR149415 in Outpatients With Major Depressive Disorder

Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of major depressive disorder, as defined by DSM-IV criteria and confirmed by the semi-structured MINI, recurrent episode. Exclusion Criteria: * Total score of less than 24 on the MADRS. * HAM-D total score less than 18. * Duration of the current depressive episode less than 1 month or greater than 2 years. * Patients with a history or presence of bipolar disorders or psychotic disorders. * Patients with alcohol dependence or abuse or substance dependence or abuse in the past 12 months except nicotine or caffeine dependence. * Patients who have used the following prior to entry into Acute Phase: antipsychotics within 3 months, fluoxetine within 1 month, MAOIs within 2 weeks, other antidepressants, anxiolytics, or mood-stabilizer (lithium, anticonvulsants) within 1 week except as allowed in the protocol. The investigator will evaluate whether there are other reasons why a patient may not participate