Objective To evaluate the differences between AIDS patients and healthy persons with depression disorder and to explore the influence of group psychological counseling activities which carried out on AIDS patients.Methods This study graded 92 AIDS patients by using the center for epidemiologic studies depression scale（CES-D）and compared the scores before and after they taking part in psychological counseling activities.Results AIDS patients had different extent of negative emotion and distinct behavior.Few or none（less than1 dper week）AIDS patients chose "I am hopeful about the future" with the rate of 26.4%.The proportion of selecting "frequent"（3to 4dper week）in regard of the option of "I am lacking in initiative and drive at work" was 44.6%.The average value of total depression score for AIDS patients before intervention was 11.80±4.61

comparing with critical value（10）

this difference was significant（t=3.743

P<0.05）.Comparing with critical value

the average value of total depression score after intervention was 8.89±4.69 with significant difference（t=-2.28

P<0.05）.This significant difference（t=6.185

P<0.01）remained so when comparing the distinct scores before and after intervention.Meanwhile

the total score before intervention correlated（r=0.526

P<0.01）with that of after.The score of male AIDS patients was 7.56±4.84 after intervention

while the score of female AIDS patients was 9.95±4.33

which manifesting significant difference（t=-2.500

P<0.05）.Conclusion It is necessary to pay attention to AIDS patients′psychological health.Psychological counseling activities can promote AIDS patients′mental health.