Dysthymic disorder is distinguished from major depressive disorder by the fact that patients complain that they have always been depressed.
It is a chronic unipolar depressive disorder with depressive symptom present most of the day, more days than not, for 2 years. Dysthymic disorder is different from major depression in that the symptoms are not as severe.
Until 1980 most chronically depressed patients were considered to have a character disorder: depressive neurosis.
Dysthymic disorder is common among the general population and affects 5 to 6 percent of all persons.
The disorder is more common in women younger than 64 years of age than in men of any age and is more common among unmarried and young persons and in those with low incomes.
More than 75% of adults with dysthymia had other psychiatric disorders, particularly major depression, anxiety disorders and substance abuse.
Symptoms of dysthymic disorder among children and adolescents include irritability, pessimism, depression, low self-esteem, poor social skills, impairment of school performance and social interaction, changes in appetite, sleep problems, fatigue, problems with making decision, and feelings of hopelessness.
In dysthymic disorder, cognitive and social or motivational symptoms, not neuro-vegetative symptoms, were common.
Dysthymic disorder in the elderly does not appear to be a continuation of early adult dysthymic disorder. Instead, it is more often associated with health problems and loses, such as the loss of a role in retirement, the delta of family members or lost contact with old friends.
Younger patents were more likely to have symptoms of worthlessness, guilt, feeling trapped, feeling blue, feeling lonely, blaming the self, decreased sexual interest, and overeating.
Dysthymic disorder runs in families, along with major depression. Persons with dysthymia have increased rates of both dysthymia and major depression in their first degree relatives.
There also appears to be higher rate of some personality disorders in the families of person with dysthymia.
Dysthymic disorder
