In the present paper

the authors review development of researches on electroacupuncture (EA) treatment of depression from 1) clinical therapeutic effect: a) comparison between EA and antidepressant

b) comparison between EA combined with antidepressant and simple antidepressant

c) comparison between EA combined with antidepressant and simple EA

d) comparison between EA and filiform needle; 2) researches on the underlying mechanisms of EA in the treatment of depression: a) clinical studies

and b) experimental studies. Clinical studies indicate that EA may improve depression patients' immune function and regulate levels of T cells

activity of IL-2

IL-1β

IL-6

TNF-α

etc. and experimental researches show that monoamines neurotransmitters and their receptors

hypothalamus-pituitary anterior lobe (HPA)-axis

brain-derived neurotrophic factor

etc are involved in the effect of EA in improving depression.