Efficacy and Safety of SR58611A in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder (SIRIUS)

Inclusion Criteria: * Patient with Major Depressive Disorder diagnosed according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR * Patient meets criteria for a recurrent Major Depressive Episode (MDE) * Patient meets severity assessments of depression specified by the study Exclusion Criteria: * Patient is at immediate risk for suicidal behavior * Patient is with a unstable medical condition * Patient with psychotic features, catatonic features, seasonal pattern or postpartum onset * Patient has taken concomitant treatment that may interfere with valid collection or interpretation of study data * Patient has been treated with non-pharmacologic therapy intended to treat depression in the past 6 months * Patient has been treated with paroxetine (Paxil) within the previous 6 months * Patient is pregnant or breastfeeding, or likely to become pregnant during the course of the study