At the initial stage, depressive syndrome is mostly of the excess type, and then the prolonged case changes from the excess to the deficiency type or the deficiencyexcess type. The principle of the treatment is to regulate qi circulation. The case of the excess type should be treated by soothing liver qi and alleviating mental depression, and assisted by promoting blood circulation, resolving phlegm, promoting diuresis, clearing away heat and promoting digestion the case of the deficiency type should be treated by nourishing the heart, tranquilizing the mind and nourishing the heart and kidneys.

Essentials for Diagnosis 
(1) The major symptoms are mental depression, restlessness, distending pain over the chest and hypochondrium or irritability and susceptibility to cry, or feeling of a foreign body in the throat, mostly seen in young and middle-aged women.
(2) The patient usually has a history of emotional upsets, such as melancholy, anxiety, sorrow, terror and resentment. Its recurrence is closely related with the emotional factors.
(3) Examinations of various systems and laboratory examinations are normal. Organic diseases should be excluded.