Current concepts of depression recognize that it may have many roots including genetic, constitutional, biochemical, neurophysiological, sociocultural and psychodynamic factors. Depression can be overt and quite evident; yet in many instances it can be masked, hidden by more noticeable somatic symptoms and even somatic disease. Concepts of psychosomatic illness have undergone considerable change in that the ‘specificity’ theories which prevailed 30 years ago have been superseded by the current belief that all illness is psychosomatic and not limited to a few chosen ones. Depression is often intertwined and interwoven with psychosomatic illness since it can be the trigger that precipitates a somatic illness. It can also be the result.