Physical complaints are part of the core depressive syndrome: evidence from a cross-cultural study in Israel.

To clarify whether physical complaints are primary or secondary phenomena in depression, Israeli inpatients of Western and Oriental origin suffering from depressive and nondepressive illnesses were compared using the self-reported Physical Complaints List. There were no differences based on ethnic origin. Depressed patients scored higher than controls. The data support the view that subjective physical distress is part of the core depressive syndrome and that, for severe psychiatric illnesses at least, cultural factors are secondary phenomena affecting expression of physical symptoms and the emphasis placed on physical symptoms by patient and physician.