Dysthymia

For the genus of moth, see Dysthymia (moth).

Dysthymia
Other namesPersistent depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, chronic depression[1]
SpecialtyPsychiatry, clinical psychology
SymptomsLow mood, low self-esteem, loss of interest in normally enjoyable activities, low energy, pain without a clear cause[2]
ComplicationsSelf harm, suicide
Usual onsetEarly adulthood
CausesGenetic, environmental, and psychological factors[2]
Risk factorsFamily history, major life changes, certain medications, chronic health problems, substance use disorders[2][3]
TreatmentCounseling, antidepressant medication, electroconvulsive therapy[2]
Frequency104 million (2015)[4]

Dysthymia (/dɪsˈθaɪmiə/ dihs-THIY-mee-uh), also known as persistent depressive disorder (PDD),[3] is a mental and behavioral disorder,[5] specifically a disorder primarily of mood, consisting of similar cognitive and physical problems as major depressive disorder, but with longer-lasting symptoms.[3][6][7] The concept was used by Robert Spitzer as a replacement for the term "depressive personality" in the late 1970s.[8]

In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV (DSM-IV), dysthymia is a serious state of chronic depression, which persists for at least two years (one year for children and adolescents). Dysthymia is not a minor form of major depressive disorder, and for some may be more disabling.[9]

As dysthymia is a chronic disorder, those with the condition may experience symptoms for many years before it is diagnosed, if diagnosis occurs at all. As a result, they may believe that depression is a part of their character, so they may not even discuss their symptoms with doctors, family members or friends. In the DSM-5, dysthymia is replaced by persistent depressive disorder.[3] This new condition includes both chronic major depressive disorder and the previous dysthymic disorder. The reason for this change is that there was no evidence for meaningful differences between these two conditions.[10]

  1. ^ MedlinePlus Encyclopedia: Persistent depressive disorder
  2. ^ a b c d "Depression". NIMH. May 2016. Archived from the original on 5 August 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, Fifth Edition. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing. pp. 168–171. ISBN 978-0-89042-554-1.
  4. ^ GBD 2015 Disease and Injury Incidence and Prevalence Collaborators (8 October 2016). "Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 310 diseases and injuries, 1990-2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015". Lancet. 388 (10053): 1545–1602. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31678-6. PMC 5055577. PMID 27733282.
  5. ^ Drs; Sartorius, Norman; Henderson, A.S.; Strotzka, H.; Lipowski, Z.; Yu-cun, Shen; You-xin, Xu; Strömgren, E.; Glatzel, J.; Kühne, G.-E.; Misès, R.; Soldatos, C.R.; Pull, C.B.; Giel, R.; Jegede, R.; Malt, U.; Nadzharov, R.A.; Smulevitch, A.B.; Hagberg, B.; Perris, C.; Scharfetter, C.; Clare, A.; Cooper, J.E.; Corbett, J.A.; Griffith Edwards, J.; Gelder, M.; Goldberg, D.; Gossop, M.; Graham, P.; Kendell, R.E.; Marks, I.; Russell, G.; Rutter, M.; Shepherd, M.; West, D.J.; Wing, J.; Wing, L.; Neki, J.S.; Benson, F.; Cantwell, D.; Guze, S.; Helzer, J.; Holzman, P.; Kleinman, A.; Kupfer, D.J.; Mezzich, J.; Spitzer, R.; Lokar, J. "The ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders Clinical descriptions and diagnostic guidelines" (PDF). www.who.int World Health Organization. Microsoft Word. bluebook.doc. p. 107. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 October 2004. Retrieved 23 June 2021 – via Microsoft Bing.
  6. ^ Gilbert, Daniel T.; Schacter, Daniel L.; Wegner, Daniel M., eds. (2011). Psychology (2nd ed.). New York: Worth Publishers. pp. 564. ISBN 978-1-4292-3719-2.
  7. ^ "Dysthymic Disorder". BehaveNet. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  8. ^ Brody, Jane (30 January 1995). "Help awaits those who live with sadness". The News-Journal. Daytona Beach, Florida. p. 54.
  9. ^ "Dysthymia". Harvard Health Publications. Harvard University. February 2005. Archived from the original (February 2005 issue of the Harvard Mental Health Letter) on 6 January 2010. Retrieved 12 December 2009.
  10. ^ John M. Grohol, Psy.D. (18 May 2013). "DSM-5 Changes: Depression & Depressive Disorders". Psych Central. Archived from the original on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2013.