The subject of masked depression and depressive equivalents presents us with a paradox: In spite of the frequency of the syndrome, only a relative handful of clinicians have a meaningful awareness or understanding of it. The depressive affect and even many depressive syndromes may be so masked that a nonpsychiatric or even psychiatric physician may be unaware of the fact that a serious emotional disorder is at hand until a massive, full-blown depression erupts and dominates the clinical scene. (38 pp.)