SummarySystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an immune-mediated, multi-system disease with a wide spectrum of neuropsychiatric manifestations including seizures, psychosis, strokes, movement disorders, and cognitive deficits. Whether affective disorders represent a manifestation of SLE is controversial. Studies in the literature have used a variety of techniques to assess depression in SLE patients and have reported divergent results. Our preliminary experience suggests that depression is more common among SLE patients than among a similar group of rheumatoid arthritis patients. This suggests that SLE predisposes patients to depression apart from the general effects of a chronic disease or its treatment. Further investigation in this area is needed to elucidate the etiology of this phenomena.