The primary objective is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of abrupt discontinuation of saredutant over 1 week in outpatients with depression who completed 8 weeks of treatment with saredutant 100 mg once daily.

The secondary objective is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of 8 weeks of open-label treatment with saredutant 100 mg once daily in outpatients with depression.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of major depressive disorder,single or recurrent episode, as defined by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

• Total score of <22 on the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS).
• Duration of the current depressive episode is less than 1 month or greater than 2 years.
• Total score of <25 on the Mini Mental State Examination (elderly patients ≥65 years only).
• 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 6 months except nicotine or caffeine dependence.
• Patients who have used the following prior to entry: benzodiazepines or sedative-hypnotics more than 2 days per week within 1 month, antipsychotics within 1 month, fluoxetine within 1 month, monoamine oxidase inhibitors within 2 weeks, other antidepressants, anxiolytics, or mood-stabilizer (lithium, anticonvulsants) within 1 week.

The investigator will evaluate whether there are other reasons why a patient may not participate.