Physical symptoms of depression: unmet needs in special populations

Over two thirds of people suffering from depression complain of pain with or without reporting psychological symptoms. Many people have trouble expressing internal emotions, consider mental illness to be a stigma, or simply assume depressive symptoms relate to their personal situations and therefore do not seek treatment. Physical symptoms are more prevalent among women, the elderly, the poor, children, culturally diverse populations, the medically ill, and the imprisoned. Because of a dual mechanism of action, medications such as duloxetine and venlafaxine may be useful in treating the physical symptoms as well as depressive symptoms in these special populations.