MASKED DEPRESSION

Masked depression is a condition in which the classic affective and co gnitive symptoms of depression are hidden behind a variety of somatic complaints or behavioural problems, Patients suffering from masked dep ression are usually incorrectly diagnosed and treated symptomatically with little success, The condition is often encountered in the medical literature from the late 1960s to the early 1980s, but little has bee n published about it in recent years. This review discusses the changi ng ideas and approach with regard to masked depression and examines wh ether they are still relevant today, The literature published in each of the previous decades is studied and specific attention is given to cultural differences in a South African context, Although little has b een published on masked depression in the past few years, somatic comp laints in depression are still regularly examined in the literature. A significant number of patients with depression are still not correctl y diagnosed and masked depression therefore remains relevant, Doctors should be aware of the presenting complaints in these patients and sho uld understand the reasons for somatisation.