The exact cause of dysthymia is unknown. Although the symptoms are not as severe as those of other forms of depression, affected people struggle nearly every day with low self-esteem, despair, and hopelessness.
As with major depressive disorder, dysthymia occurs more frequently in women than in men and affects up to 5% of the general population. Dysthymia can occur alone or in conjunction with more severe depression or other mood or psychiatric disorder.
Symptoms:
The main symptom of dysthymia is low, dark, or sad mood nearly every day for at least 2 years. Other symptoms can include:
Dysthymia is evaluated by taking a careful history of mood and other mental health symptoms over the past several months.
Review Date: 11/15/2006
Reviewed By: Paul Ballas, D.O., Department of Psychiatry, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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Mood Disorders
