The scope of the problem: physical symptoms of depression.

T he association between physical illness and depression is well recognized. In one large cohort study of patients who visited a family physician complaining of a physical symptom, major depression was observed in 11% and minor depression or dysthymia in an additional 12%.1 Other estimates suggest that 15% of adult medical inpatients and 4.8% to 8.6% of primary care outpatients meet International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision criteria for major