The development of TCM doctrine of depression syndrome has undergone 5 different stages including origin of theory

rudiment of differentiation and treatment

deepening of knowledge

formation of doctrine and perfection of system.The theory of five-depression and depression inducing by emotion in Huang Di Nei Jing and ZHANG Zhong-jing’s theoretical system of depression differentiation and treatment created the research on the doctrine of depression syndrome.CHEN Wu-duo’s theory of seven emotional causes made the further cognition on depression syndrome.In Jin and Yuan Dynasties

LIU Wan-su’s theory of depressed heat stagnation

ZHANG Zi-he’s theory of liver-spleen stagnation

LI Dong-yuan’s theory of depression inducing by qi deficiency

six depressions theory of school of Danxi and WANG Lv’s new theory of therapies for five depressions all had improved the formation of doctrine of depression syndrome.The doctors in Ming and Qing Dynasties proposed the theory of all diseases accompanied by depression

perfected the differentiation and therapeutic system for five depressions and six depressions

paid more attention to emotions as the cause of depression and therapeutic principle of supporting Yuan qi for soothing depression

and the doctrine with rich connotation had taken shape.Throughout the recognition on depression syndrome in all ages

TCM doctrine of depression syndrome contains a series of depressive states after seven emotions

pathogens and medicinal acting on the body

which involve functions of organs and qi

blood

fluid and humor.The content of research includes depression of zang-organ qi

depression of disease qi

depression of pathogens

depression of emotions and depression of drugs.The thought of differentiation and treatment in this content can guide us to understand and treat different diseases.The future development direction of doctrine of depression syndrome may be firstly to integrate the doctrine of depression syndrome with modern psychological medicine theory

and complete the differentiation and treatment based on the integration of Chinese and Western medicine

and secondly to comb and clear the relation between deficiency and depression and method of differentiation and treatment from the aspect of traditional literature research.