OBJECTIVE: To observe clinical efficacy and safety of Chaihu shugan powder combined with clonazepam in the treatment of liver qi stagnation type anxiety. METHODS: 96 patients with liver qi stagnation type anxiety were randomly divided into observation group and control group, with 48 cases in each group. Control group was given Clonazepam tablet with initial dose of 0.5 mg, increasing to 4.0 mg gradually, tid; observation group was additionally given Chaihu shugan powder 300 ml, bid, on the basis of control group. Both groups were treated for 6 weeks. Clinical efficacy of 2 groups were observed, and HAMA and SAS were observed before and after treatment; the incidence of ADR were compared between 2 groups. RESULTS: The total effective rate of observation group (97.92%) was significantly higher than that of control group (83.33%), with statistical significance (P<0.05). There was no statistical significance in HAMA and SAS between 2 groups before treatment (P>0.05); HAMA and SAS of 2 groups decreased significantly 1, 3 and 6 weeks after treatment, and the observation group was lower than the control group, with statistical significance (P<0.05). There was no statistical significance in the incidence of ADR between 2 groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Chaihu shugan powder combined with clonazepam is effective, improve patient anxiety and safe in the treatment of liver qi stagnation type anxiety.