Depression is a mental disorder of unknown etiology, characterized by high prevalence, high relapse rate, and difficulty in treatment. Mitochondria, as the "energy factory" of cells, are essential organelles for the survival and activity of neurons. Mitophagy, an evolutionarily highly conserved lysosomal degradation pathway, can precisely remove damaged mitochondria in cells. Recent studies have shown that impaired mitophagy may contribute to depression. Based on the process of mitophagy, this article reviews the role of mitophagy in the pathogenesis and treatment of depression and discusses the limitations of current research in order to provide new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of depression.