Background: Whereas it is established that organic pain may induce depression, it is unclear whether pain is more common in healthy subjects with depression. We assessed the prevalence of pain in premenopausal women with major depression (MDD). Subjects were 21-to 45-year-old premenopausal women with MDD (N = 70; age: 35.4 +/-6.6; mean +/-SD) and healthy matched controls (N = 36; age 35.4 +/-6.4) participating in a study of bone turnover, the P.O.W.E.R. (Premenopausal, Osteopenia/Osteoporosis, Women, Alendronate, Depression) Study.