Objective To discuss the effects of residual symptoms after acute phase treatment on satisfaction with quality of life in Chinese patients with depression. Methods From May 2016 to October 2017， a total of 428 outpatients with depression who had completed 8-12 weeks' acute antidepression treatment were recruited from 16 hospitals. A 6-month follow-up survey was conducted. Brief 16-Item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-Report （QIDS-SR16）， Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire Short Form （Q-LES-Q-SF） were used to assess the residual symptoms and the satisfaction with quality of life. According to QIDS-SR16 scores， the participants were divided into complete remission group （QIDS-SR16 scores ≤ 5） and residual symptom group （QIDS-SR16 scores ＞ 5）， followup was conducted at the end of 1 month， 3 months and 6 months， and the effects of residual symptoms on patients' life satisfaction were evaluated. Generalized linear estimation equations were applied to analyze the changes in life satisfaction between two groups of patients. Results Of the 428 patients， 179 patients （41.8%） were in the complete remission group and 249 patients （58.2%） were in the residual symptoms group. At baseline， except for too much sleep， there were statistically significant differences in residual symptoms between patients in the complete remission group and those in the residual symptom group （P ＜ 0.01）. Patients in the complete remission group had higher life satisfaction than the residual symptom group， with a statistically significant difference （Z=-5.57， P ＜ 0.01）. The results of the generalized linear estimating equation analysis showed that the total Q-LES-Q-SF scores were higher in both groups during the followup period compared with the baseline period， with a significant time effect （Z=2.50-3.98， P ＜ 0.05）. The results of univariate analysis showed that difficulty falling asleep， poor sleep， early awakening， feeling depressed， appetite/weight change， impaired concentration， negative self-evaluation， suicidal ideation， lack of engagement， loss of energy， unresponsiveness and fidgeting had an effect on patients' life satisfaction （Z= -8.75-0.72， P ＜ 0.05）. Multifactorial analysis showed that suicidal ideation， lack of engagement， loss of energy， and unresponsiveness were factors influencing life satisfaction in depressed patients in QIDS-SR16 （Z=4.03， 2.00， 3.26， 2.26； P ＜ 0.05）. Conclusions The adverse effects on the patients' quality of life satisfaction increased with the residual symptoms in acute treatment.