Through an inductive analysis of ancient and modern doctors′ interpretation of the five spirits theory in traditional Chinese medicine

this paper summarized the connotation of the five spirits concisely

which can be referred to when interpreting the main symptoms of the mental disorders. By taking mental symptoms as the core

and by combining disease

syndromes

and symptoms differentiation together

the main pathogenesis of various mental disorders can be differentiated; for treatment

drugs target for zang-fu organs（脏腑） in combination with mental drugs is suggested

and new ideas for syndrome differentiation and treatment of mental disorders based on the five spirits theory are needed.