title: The relationship of presenting physical complaints to depressive symptoms in primary care patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the relationship of specific patient chief physical complaints to underlying depressive symptoms in primary care practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study that was part of a larger prevalence study of depression in primary care.
  
  
  METHODS
  A general medical primary care practice in a teaching medical center in rural New England.
  
  
  METHODS
  1,042 consecutive outpatients screened for depression with the Hopkins Symptom Checklist 49-item depression scale and for whom physicians filled out a form recording both specific chief complaints and two aspects of complaint presentation style, clarity and amplification.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complaints that discriminated between depressed and non-depressed patients (at the p = 0.05 level) were sleep disturbance (PPV 61%), fatigue (PPV 60%), multiple (3+) complaints (PPV 56%), nonspecific musculoskeletal complaints (PPV 43%), back pain (PPV 39%), shortness of breath (PPV 39%), amplified complaints (PPV 39%), and vaguely stated complaints (PPV 37%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Depressed patients are common in primary care practice and important to recognize. Certain specific complaints and complaint presentation styles are associated with underlying depressive symptoms.
authors: Department of Medicine, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH.
authors: P D
authors: PD
authors: Gerber
authors: J E
authors: JE
authors: Barrett
authors: J A
authors: JA
authors: Barrett
authors: T E
authors: TE
authors: Oxman
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Manheimer
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Smith
authors: R D
authors: RD
authors: Whiting
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence