OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of acupuncture on the quality of life in patients with depression by clinical randomized single-blind placebo-controlled study. METHODS: one hundred and sixty-three cases of depression according with the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into a group of acupuncture dredging liver and regulating flow of theosophy (group 1), a group of acupoint shallow stab (group 2) and a group of non-acupoint shallow stab (group 3) at 1 : 1 : 1 ratio, and treated with acupuncture, moxibustion, and intradermal embedding of needle, twice a week, for a total of 12 weeks.. Scale of Quality of Life (SF-36) was used to measure the scores at four different time points and evaluate the effect of acupuncture on the quality of life of the patients with depression. RESULTS: At each time point after treatment, in scores of the 8 items; physical function, physical role, bodily pain, general physical condition, energy, social function, emotional function and mental health there were statistically significant differences among the 3 groups (P < 0.0125). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture can effectively improve the quality of life of patients with depression. (C) 2016 JTCM. All rights reserved.