Dysthemia, A chronic form of depression
Dysthymia (pronounced dis-thigh-mee-uh, from Ancient Greek δυσθυμία, "melancholy") is a mood disorder consisting of chronic depression, but with less severity than major depressive disorder. The term was first used by James Kocsis during the 1970s.
Dysthymia is a type of mild depression. Harvard Health Publications states that "the Greek word dysthymia means 'bad state of mind' or 'ill humor'. As one of the two chief forms of clinical depression, it usually has fewer or less serious symptoms than major depression but lasts longer." Harvard Health Publications also says, "at least three-quarters of patients with dysthymia also have a chronic physical illness or another psychiatric disorder such as one of the anxiety disorders, drug addiction, or alcoholism". The prevalence estimate for dysthymia of "clinical significance" among the adult US population is 1.7 percent (CI: 1.5-1.9) based on the Epidemiologic Catchment Area Program and 1.8 percent (CI: 1.4-2.2) based on the National Comorbidity Survey. Harvard Health Publications says: "The rate of depression in the families of people with dysthymia is as high as fifty percent for the early-onset form of the disorder. Most people with dysthymia can't tell for sure when they first became depressed".
People with dysthymia have a higher-than-average chance of developing major depression. Fluctuating symptoms intensity can trigger a full-blown episode of major depression. This situation is sometimes called "double depression" because the intense episode exists with the usual feelings of low mood.
As dysthymia is a chronic disorder, sufferers may experience symptoms for many years before it is diagnosed, if diagnosis occurs at all. As a result, they may to believe that depression is a part of their character, so they may not even discuss their symptoms with doctors, family members, or friends.
Dysthymia, like major depression, tends to run in families. It is two to three times more common in women than in men. Some sufferers describe being under chronic stress. When treating diagnosed individuals, it is often difficult to tell whether they are under unusually high environmental stress or the dysthymia is causing them to be more psychologically stressed in a standard environment.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), published by the American Psychiatric Association, characterizes dysthymic disorder.[10] The essential symptom involves the individual feeling depressed for the majority of days and parts of the day for at least two years. Low energy, disturbances in sleep or in appetite, and low self-esteem typically contribute to the clinical picture as well. Sufferers have often experienced dysthymia for many years before it is diagnosed. People around them come to believe that the sufferer is 'just a moody person'. Note the following diagnostic criteria:[1][11]
In children and adolescents, mood can be irritable, and duration must be at least one year, in contrast to two years needed for diagnosis in adults.
Dysthymia is a type of mild depression. Harvard Health Publications states that "the Greek word dysthymia means 'bad state of mind' or 'ill humor'. As one of the two chief forms of clinical depression, it usually has fewer or less serious symptoms than major depression but lasts longer." Harvard Health Publications also says, "at least three-quarters of patients with dysthymia also have a chronic physical illness or another psychiatric disorder such as one of the anxiety disorders, drug addiction, or alcoholism". The prevalence estimate for dysthymia of "clinical significance" among the adult US population is 1.7 percent (CI: 1.5-1.9) based on the Epidemiologic Catchment Area Program and 1.8 percent (CI: 1.4-2.2) based on the National Comorbidity Survey. Harvard Health Publications says: "The rate of depression in the families of people with dysthymia is as high as fifty percent for the early-onset form of the disorder. Most people with dysthymia can't tell for sure when they first became depressed".
People with dysthymia have a higher-than-average chance of developing major depression. Fluctuating symptoms intensity can trigger a full-blown episode of major depression. This situation is sometimes called "double depression" because the intense episode exists with the usual feelings of low mood.
As dysthymia is a chronic disorder, sufferers may experience symptoms for many years before it is diagnosed, if diagnosis occurs at all. As a result, they may to believe that depression is a part of their character, so they may not even discuss their symptoms with doctors, family members, or friends.
Dysthymia, like major depression, tends to run in families. It is two to three times more common in women than in men. Some sufferers describe being under chronic stress. When treating diagnosed individuals, it is often difficult to tell whether they are under unusually high environmental stress or the dysthymia is causing them to be more psychologically stressed in a standard environment.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), published by the American Psychiatric Association, characterizes dysthymic disorder.[10] The essential symptom involves the individual feeling depressed for the majority of days and parts of the day for at least two years. Low energy, disturbances in sleep or in appetite, and low self-esteem typically contribute to the clinical picture as well. Sufferers have often experienced dysthymia for many years before it is diagnosed. People around them come to believe that the sufferer is 'just a moody person'. Note the following diagnostic criteria:[1][11]
- During a majority of days for two years or more, the adult patient reports depressed mood or appears depressed to others for most of the day.
- When depressed, the patient has two or more of:
- decreased or increased appetite
- decreased or increased sleep (insomnia or hypersomnia)
- Fatigue or low energy
- Reduced self-esteem
- Decreased concentration or problems making decisions
- Feels hopeless or pessimistic
- During this two-year period, the above symptoms are never absent longer than two consecutive months.
- During the first two years of this syndrome, the patient has not had a major depressive episode.
- The patient has not had any manic, hypomanic, or mixed episodes.
- The patient has never fulfilled criteria for cyclothymic disorder.
- The depression does not exist only as part of a chronic psychosis (such as schizophrenia or delusional disorder).
- The symptoms are often not directly caused by a medical illness or by substances, including drug abuse, or other medications.
- The symptoms may cause significant problems or distress in social, work, academic, or other major areas of life functioning.[10]
In children and adolescents, mood can be irritable, and duration must be at least one year, in contrast to two years needed for diagnosis in adults.