Sertraline vs. Venlafaxine XR

This is a randomized, double-blind, active control, 8-week, flexible dose study of sertraline vs. venlafaxine XR in the acute treatment of Major Depression in male and female outpatient sites that will recruit 15-20 patients each. Subjects will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either sertraline or venlafaxine XR based on a computer-generated randomized list. The primary objectives of the study are: to assess the comparative safety and tolerability of sertraline and venlafaxine XR and to assess number and severity of discontinuation symptoms and time to termination of taper at the end of acute treatment with sertraline vs. venlafaxine XR.