OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to test the hypotheses that pain is associated with depression independent of personality and that neuroticism moderates this association.

METHOD: Multiple regression analyses were conducted in a group of 404 older primary care patients assessed with validated measures.

RESULTS: Bodily pain was independently associated with depression. Neuroticism moderated the associations between pain and both depressive symptom severity and major depression, albeit not independent of overall medical burden; the relationships were stronger in subjects with lower neuroticism scores.

CONCLUSIONS: The association of bodily pain with depression may be greater in those previously at lower risk on account of low neuroticism.