Abstract: OBJECTIVE To investigate the difference of polysomnography(PSG) and brain-derived neurotrophic factors(BNDF) in patients with depression after oral administration of escitalopram. METHODS All of 60 patients with depression from October 2018 to July 2020 were selected and oral administration of escitalopram:the initial was 10 mg·d^-1, and was gradually increased to 20 mg·d^-1 on the 14th day. Their sleep process, sleep structure and rapid eye movement(REM) sleep indicators were investigated before and after treatment. Serum BDNF level was measured by ELISA before and after the treatment. RESULTS Compared with before treatment, after treatment, sleep latency, wake time and wake times were decreased, sleep efficiency was improved, and sleep ratio was increased(P<0.05), while the difference in total sleep time was not statistically significant. Compared with before treatment, after treatment, the percentages of S1 and S2 were significantly decreased(P<0.05); the percentage of SWS was significantly increased(P<0.05); while the REM ratio was not statistically significant. After the treatment, various REM indicators were significantly changed in patients with depression, appearing longer REM sleep time, shortened REM latency, decreased REM activity, REM intensity, REM density and larger number of REM sleep(P<0.05). Compared with before treatment, BDNF average level was significantly increased after treatment(P<0.05). CONCLUSION After oral administration of escitalopram combined with hypnotic, the sleep quality of patients is significantly improved, and the level of BDNF elevated.