The term masked depression means a depressive condition in which physical symptoms predominate while the depressive symptoms are concealed. The physical complaints are frequently unspecific and difficult to identify. The leading symptom is usually pain--the predilection sites being the head and chest. For the general practitioner, orientation to a check list of questions aimed at identifying depressive symptoms in patients with physical complaints that are difficult to diagnose, makes good sense. The concept of masked depression has been abandoned in favor of other diagnoses that can be operationalized.