Abstract： This article introduces the clinical experience of renowned traditional Chinese medicine practitioner YANG Shengcai in treating depression syndrome with modified Xiao Chaihu Decoction. YANG Shengcai proposes that the onset of depression syndrome is caused by the failure of yang qi to ascend and the failure of yin qi to descend，which mostly corresponds to the Shaoyang disease according to the six-meridian syndrome differentiation. The treatment primarily focuses on ascending yang qi and descending yin qi. The symptoms of taciturnity and vexation recorded in the text of Xiao Chaihu Decoction in Shang Han Lun（Treatise on Exogenous Febrile Disease）closely resemble the clinical manifestations of depression syndrome. Based on the pathogenesis of depression syndrome， the modified use of Xiao Chaihu Decoction to harmonize the pivot and resolve stagnation can achieve good clinical efficacy.