Purpose: To observe clinical therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture on depression. Methods: The treatment group was treated with electroacupuncture at Baihui

Yintang points based on differentiation of symptoms and signs

and the control group was treated with Maprotiline. Results: After treatment the score of the Hamilton Depression Scale decreased significantly as compared with that before treatment in the both groups OP<0. 01)

with no significant difference between the two groups （P>0. 05）. The total effective rate was 96. 7% in the treatment group and 90. 3% in the control group with no significant difference （P>0. 05）. The cumulative scores of TCM symptoms after treatment in the two groups decreased significantly （P<0. 01）

with significant difference between the two groups （P<0. 05）

the treatment group being superior to the control group. According to the scoring of the Asberg scale for adverse effects of anti - depression medicines

the decrease of score in the treatment group was superior to that in the control group. Plasma cortisol and endothelin （ET - 1） contents after treatment in the two groups were decreased significantly as compared with before treatment （P < 0. 01）

basically recovering normal

but with no significant difference between the two groups after treatment （P > 0. 05）. Conclusion: Electroacupuncture has a similar therapeutic effect with Maprotiline on depression with less adverse effects

and the improvement of TCM symptoms is superior to that of Maprotiline.