Objective To compare the effects of single and complex emotional stimuli on animal model of liver depression syndrome, in order to find out an animal model of liver depression syndrome with more similar clinical manifestations. Methods Based on the previous screening work, different methods, i.e. tail clamping, limb binding, putting a cangue on the neck, were used respectively, or using the three methods in combination to establish rat models of liver depression syndrome. A comparison table of human and rat liver depression syndrome was prepared, a mark sheet of evaluation criteria was made, general condition was observed and body weight was measured, and positive response to drugs and changes of hormonal levels were evaluated to identify whether the models were established successfully. Results Rats in the control group grew well and showed no abnormalities. There were lots of abnormal phenomena in the model group especially in the complex emotional stimulus modeling group. They were maniac with acute stress or depressive with chronic stress, had dry hair, small and less feces, many of the rats had hair loss, red eyes and shortness of breath symptom. They showed a significantly lower body weight gain and higher levels of CRH in hypothalamus and plasma ACTH and CORT. The manifestations were much more severe in the complex-emotional stimuli-induced model group than that in the single-stimulus prepared model groups. The drug-treated group showed considerable alleviation of the symptoms and improvement of the parameters closing to normal levels. Conclusions Establishing the rat model of stagnation of liver depression syndrome by complex emotional stimuli modeling method has good stability, with a short preparation period and high success rate, and presenting a better consistence with clinical liver stagnation of depression syndrome, so as to provide a suitable tool for TCM research.