Objective:To explore application research of intimacy enhancement therapy in the rehabilition of depression patients, and to provide reference for carrying out depression nursing care.Methods:This study was a randomized controlled trial. From September 2022 to September 2023, a total of 84 depression patients and spouse were selected by convenience sampling method and assigned to the experimental group and control group with 42 cases in each group using the random number table method from Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University. The control group applied with routine nursing, and the experimental group implemented intimacy enhancement therapy. Before and 8 weeks after intervention, Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-17), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA-17) and Symptom checklist-90 (SCL-90) were used for assessment.Results:Finally, 81 patients completed the study, including 39 in the experimental group, 13 males and 26 females, aged (36.18 ± 10.93) years old, and 42 in the control group, 17 males and 25 females, aged (38.76 ± 10.90) years old. Before intervention, there was no significant difference in HAMD-17, HAMA-17 and SCL-90 (all P>0.05). After 8 weeks of intervention, the scores of HAMD-17, HAMA-17 scores in the experimental group were (21.00 ± 4.49), (25.38 ± 5.16) points, which were lower than (23.76 ± 6.24), (28.48 ± 5.88) points in the control group; the scores of somatization, interpersonal sensitivity, compulsion, anxiety, depression, others, total SCL-90 in the experimental group were (1.25 ± 0.19), (0.69 ± 0.35), (1.40 ± 0.23), (1.17 ± 0.29), (1.18 ± 0.14), (1.22 ± 0.18), (119.69 ± 9.09) points, which were also lower than (1.82 ± 0.26), (1.53 ± 0.36), (1.69 ± 0.39), (1.88 ± 0.38), (1.73 ± 0.35), (1.31 ± 0.17), (146.19 ± 8.97) points of the control group, the differences were statistically significant ( t values were 2.05-13.20, all P<0.05). Conclusions:Intimacy enhancement therapy can effectively alleviate somatic symptoms and improve prognosis of patients with depression.