OBJECTIVE:To systematically review the benefits of integrated traditional and Western medicine therapies based on the Hamilton depression scale(HAMD) following syndrome differentiation of depression.METHODS:We searched six English and Chinese electronic databases for randomized clinical trials(RCTs) on integrated traditional and Western medicine for treatment of depression.Two authors extracted data and independently assessed the trial quality.RevMan 5 software was used for data analyses with an effect estimate presented as weighted mean difference(WMD) with a 95% confidence interval(CI).RESULTS:Seven RCTs with 576 participants were identified for this review.All trials were eligible for the meta-analysis and were evaluated as unclear or having a risk of bias.Meta-analysis showed,compared with Western medicine alone,integrated traditional and Western medicine based on syndrome differentiation could improve the effect of treatment represented by the HAMD [WMD=-2.39,CI(-2.96,-1.83),Z=8.29,P