The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway, a key regulator of cellular metabolism, proliferation and neuroplasticity, has attracted extensive attention in the study of depression pathogenesis and treatment. The mechanisms of mTOR signaling pathway are complex, involving neuroinflammation, synaptic plasticity, autophagy regulation, and neuronal function. Notably, the interactions of the mTOR pathway with brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt), N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), and inflammatory factors provide new insights for understanding pathophysiological mechanisms of depression. Furthermore, studies on antidepressant drugs and emerging therapeutic strategies based on the mTOR pathway, such as ketamine, rapamycin, and traditional Chinese medicine formulations, have shown potential of the mTOR pathway as effective treatment target for depression. This article reviews the research progress of the mTOR signaling pathway on depressive disorder, explores its application prospects in precision therapy of depression, and provides a theoretical foundation and practical guidance for future research  directions.

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