Mixed depression is a common mental health problem that causes great distress to the patient’s life and social functioning. Due to historical and cultural tourism having communicative characteristics, it may have a positive effect on improving the symptoms of depression and is considered to affect improving mixed depression.

A randomized controlled trial design was used in this study, which included 100 patients with mixed depression. The intervention group received an 8-week historical and cultural tourism intervention, while the control group continued to receive conventional psychotherapy. The analysis tool uses SPSS23.0.

At the end of the study, patients in the intervention group showed significant improvement in depressive symptoms as measured by the Hamilton Depression Scale and Quality of Life questionnaire. Depression symptoms were reduced by 30 % in the intervention group compared to the control group. In addition, life quality in the intervention group also improved significantly, by 20% compared to the control group.

Historical and cultural tourism has a positive effect on improving the symptoms and life quality of patients with mixed depression. By providing new sensory and cognitive experiences, historical and cultural tourism can divert patients’ attention and emotions, and alleviate their depressive symptoms. The combination of historical and cultural tourism with drug and psychotherapy can become an effective and feasible treatment method, which provides a new choice and treatment means for patients with mixed depression.