Objective To observe the therapeutic effect and mechanism of abdominal tuina therapy for generalized anxiety disorder（GAD）.Methods Eighty GAD patients with liver depression and qi stagnation syndrome were randomized into the abdominal tuina group and western medication control group

with 40 in each.The abdominal tuina group was given tuina therapy such as pressing

rubbing

moving and pushing on the abdomen

horizontally rubbing on the chest and rib-side

spine pinching and massaging the head and neck.The western medication control group was given Paroxetine Hydrochloride Tablets.One treatment course lasted for 15 days and both groups were treated once daily for 2 courses.The therapeutic effect was observed in both groups after treatment.The patients were evaluated with Hamilton Anxiety Scale（HAMA） before and after treatment and during the follow-up.The content of 5-hydroxytryptamine（5-HT） was detected before and after treatment.Treatment Emergent Side-Effect Scale（TESS） was evaluated after treatment.Results The total effective rate of the abdominal tuina group and western medication control group was 92.5% and 95.0% respectively

with no significant difference between groups（P>0.05）.The contents of 5-HT and scores of HAMA were decreased in both groups after treatment（P<0.05）

but with no significant difference between groups（P>0.05）.The score of HAMA in the abdominal tuina group was significantly lower than that in the western medication control group during the follow-up（P<0.05）.After treatment

the score of TESS and incidence of side effects in the abdominal tuina group were significantly lower than those in the western medication control group（P<0.05）.Conclusion The abdominal tuina therapy is as effective as Paroxetine Hydrochloride Tablets for GAD with liver depression and qi stagnation syndrome.The abdominal tuina therapy has a better long-term effect and fewer side effects and its mechanism may be related to reducing 5-HT.