Telomeric repeat-containing RNA (TERRA), a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), is transcribed from both chromosomal ends and regulates gene expression at telomeres as well as within internal chromosomal regions. Although chromosomal dysfunction has been implicated in depression, the relationship between TERRA expression and depressive symptoms remains poorly understood. In this study, we developed a quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) method to measure TERRA expression from 10 loci on chromosomes 3, 8, 11, 12, 16, and 22, which have been associated with depressive disorder. Using this method, we examined the association between TERRA expression in peripheral blood and depressive symptoms in 18 patients with major depressive disorder. TERRA expression levels at 8p and 11p exhibited limited correlation with those at other chromosomal loci. Moreover, when patients were stratified into two groups based on depressive symptom severity, TERRA expression at 8p was significantly lower in the group with severe depressive symptoms compared with those with mild symptoms (P = 0.043). This study established a method for quantifying chromosome-specific TERRA expression and provided insights into its potential association with depressive symptoms. The findings suggest that aberrant TERRA expression at 8p may contribute to the pathophysiology of depression. Further studies involving larger cohorts are warranted to validate these results.