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Mild chronic Depression has long been known to exist. Although it has been referred to by different names such as neurotic depression, minor depression, intermittent depression, and depressive personality, it has, since its appearance in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnositc and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (1980) been labeled dysthymia. The term literally means ill-humoured.
Dysthymia is less severe, yet a typically more chronic (at least 1-3 years) form of depression that keeps you from functioning at your full ability and from feeling well. Thus, it can severely impaire a child's development of the social skills needed to combat these same symptoms. It is diagnosed when a person's depressed mood persists for at least one year in children or adolescents and is accompanied by at least two other symptoms of Major Depression. It is somewhat hereditary but it is uncertain whether this linkage is due to genetic or environmental factors (or both).
Dysthymia is closely related to Major Depression -- most people who have Dysthymia do experience exacerbations that meet the criteria for major depression at some point in their lives, and there is a high rate of occurrence of Major Depression in the families of people with Dysthymia. In fact, Dysthymia is associated with an increased risk of developing Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, and substance abuse.
Major Depression and Dysthymia can be superimposed upon one another. This is known as Double Depression. It is important to pay attention to the signs of these disorders because each of them have a high comorbidity rate with other disorders. Literally speaking misery loves company.
Symptoms -- a depressed/irritable mood for most of the day, for more days than not (by subjective account or observation by others) for at least one year, including the presence of at least two of the following:
Dysthymic individuals tend to be self-deprecating, brooding about the past, socially withdrawn and they may feel irritable and unproductive. Dysthymia is also characterized by anhedonia (an inability to derive pleasure from events or stimuli previously found pleasurable).
What does Dysthymia look like in the classroom?
What is the significance of Dysthymia?
Dysthymia is a gateway illness -- students who suffer from this disorder are at a much higher risk of developing Major Depression, Bipolar Depression and substance abuse problems.
By recognizing and treating Dysthymia, a person may be able to prevent deterioration to the more severe mental illnesses.
What are the treatments for Dysthymia?
Because it is a mild form of depression, medications are not always required.
Psychotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy are common.
Education and psychological counseling for the family is also recommended.