title: Depression - the proteus of medicine.
abstract: Depression is discussed as a disease of antiquity with suitable contemporary references also. The prevalence of this disorder, which at a given time constitutes 121 millions world-wide is mentioned. Among the types of depression, comorbid depression forms an important one. Classical depression forms the visible part of the depression iceberg while somatic and other life contextual situation forms the submerged part. Somatic manifestations per se do not carry diagnostic weightage unless the core features of depression are elicited. Non-recognition of somatic manifestations result in under-diagnosis and under treatment of the disorder.
authors.affiliation: Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry, Madurai Medical College, Madurai.
authors.forename: A Venkoba
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Rao