Can depression cause aches and pains?

Depression often causes physical symptoms such as headaches and joint pain. Stomach irritation, neck and back problems, and pain in your arms and legs can also occur. Talk to your doctor about your symptoms and how you're feeling. Your doctor may want to do some tests to rule out injuries or illnesses that can also cause aches and pains.

Many individuals with major depression experience vague aches and pains, which are not specific to any one area of the body and do not match the typical description of any pain syndromes. Nevertheless, these painful symptoms add to the overall level of disability that is associated with depression. Patients with depression commonly have other comorbid medical illnesses, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, arthritis, and stroke, which may also be responsible for the painful symptoms they experience.