Abstract: Prevention, diagnosis and treatment of depression are main clinical challenges. The improvements in these fields are anticipated when new methods and techniques transcend traditional ones. The neuroimaging approach applied to translational research in depression provides a new breakthrough for achieving such aim, which refers to translate the neuroimage basic findings into clinical applications. The paper reviewed its latest findings and potential application value in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of depression. Future directions are aimed at enhancing bidirectional transmission, placing more emphasis on turning innovations into everyday clinical practice and health decision-making, improving multidisciplinary cooperation and personal training, and requiring further research on specific topics during translational process.

Key words: depression, Neuroimage, translational research, clinic