An Eight-Week, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Fixed Dose of SR58611A 350 mg Twice a Day in Elderly Patients With Generalized Anxiety Disorder With an Optional Twenty-Four Week Extension

The primary objective of this study is to demonstrate the efficacy of SR58611A 350 mg twice a day compared to placebo in elderly patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), as assessed by the 14-item Hamilton Anxiety rating Scale (HAM-A).

Secondary objectives are to evaluate the tolerability and safety of SR58611A in elderly patients with GAD, to evaluate the efficacy of SR58611A compared to placebo on disablility and quality of life in elderly patients with GAD and to evaluate the tolerability and safety of 24 weeks of additional treatment with SR58611A in elderly patients with GAD.