Objective To assess the clinical efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion on depression based on the outcome indexes of the patient subjective reports. Methods One hundred and sixty-three cases of depression conformed to the inclusive standards were randomized into a soothing liver and regulating mind group （group A）, an acupoint shallow puncturing group （group B） and a non- acupoint shallow puncturing group （group C）. In group A, the conventional acupuncture was applied to the four gate points [Hegu （合谷 LI 4） and Taichong （太冲 LR 3）], Baihui （百会 GV 20） and Yintang （印堂 GV 29）, direct moxibustion with moxa cone was applied to the four flower points [Geshu （膈俞 BL 17）, Danshu （胆俞 BL 19）]. Finally, intradermal needling was used at Xinshu （心俞 BL 15） and Ganshu （肝俞 BL 18）. In group 13, the acupoints selected were same as those in the soothing liver and regulating mind group, with a shallower needling depth and a shorter duration of moxibustion. In group C, the spots selected were located at 10 mm lateral to the acupoints selected in group A, with same manipulation method as that in group 13. In all the three groups, the treatment was given twice a week, for 12 weeks. Before treatment, 1 month and 3 months after treatment, the scores of symptoms were respectively assessed with the symptom checklist 90 （SCL 90）, and the corresponding short- term, mid-term and long-term efficacies of the acupuncture and moxibustion program for soothing the liver and regulating mind were investigated. Results At each time point after treatment, the scores of somatization, compulsion, depression, anxiety, hostility, extremeness, psychotic behavior and other 8 dimensionalit-ies were significantly different between group A and group C （all P〈0.05）. In the scores of depression, anxiety and hostility there were significant differences between the group A and the group C （all P〈0.05）. Conclusion Acupuncture and moxibustion can improve the scores of SCL 90 f
