objective To assess the clinical efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion ondepression based on the outcome indexes of the patient subjective reports.Methods One hundred and sixty-three cases of depression conformed to theinclusive standards were randomized into a soothing liver and regulating mindgroup (group A), an acupoint shallow puncturing group (group B) and a non-acupoint shallow puncturing group (group C).In group A, the conventionalacupuncture was applied to the four gate points [Hegü(合谷Ll4) and Taichong(太冲LR 3)], Baihui(百会GV 20) and Yintang(印堂GV 29), direct moxibustionwith moxa cone was applied to the four flower points [Géshu(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 B, the acupoints selected were sameas those in the soothing liver and regulating mind group, with a shallowerneedling depth and a shorter duration of moxibustion. In group C, the spotsselected were located at 10 mm lateral to the acupoints selected in group A,with same manipulation method as that in group B.In all the three groups, the treatment was given twice a week, for 12 weeks. Before treatment, 1 monthand 3 months after treatment, the scores of symptoms were respectivelyassessed with the symptom checklist 90 (SCL 90), and the corresponding short-term, mid-term and long-term efficacies of the acupuncture and moxibustionprogram for soothing the liver and regulating mind were investigated.ResultsAt each time point after treatment, the scores of somatization, compulsion,depression, anxiety, hostility, extremeness, psychotic behavior and other 8dimensionalities were significantly different between group A and group C (allP<0.05).In the scores of depression, anxiety and hostility there were significantdifferences between the group A and the group c(all P<0.05).ConclusionAcupuncture and moxibustion can improve the scores of sCL 90 for thepatients with depression, and the outcome indexes of the patient subjectivereports can accurately assess the clinical efficacy.