ABSTRACT
Background: Somatisation, the tendency to seek treatment for medically unexplained physical complaints is frequently associated with depression and is more frequently seen in Indian context. Aim: This study is aimed to assess the prevalence of somatisation symptoms among various subgroups of Indian patients with depression and the sociodemographic factors associated with depression. Methods: This is a cross sectional study of 262 patients, who were categorized into three sub groups of as per ICD 10.All the subjects were administrated MADRS and BSI to study severity of depression and nature of somatisation. Results: Female subjects exhibited a higher prevalence of somatisation than male subjects. Similarly married, illiterate, low socio-economic and rural background subjects showed high prevalence of somatisation. Subjects with diagnosis of dysthymia exhibited high prevalence of somatisation (56.42%) followed by mixed anxiety depression (51.08%) and depression with somatic symptoms (48.55%). Conclusion: Somatisation is common in depression. The tendency to perceive and report physical complaints are influenced by various socio demographic factors including gender difference.