Psychology Today's Diagnosis Dictionary: Dysthymia

Diagnosis Dictionary

Dysthymia

Definition

Dysthymia is a serious and disabling disorder that shares many symptoms with other forms of clinical depression. It is generally experienced as a less severe but more chronic form of major depression. Specifically, dysthymia is characterized by depressed mood experienced most of the time for at least two years, along with at least two of the following symptoms: insomnia or excessive sleep, low energy or fatigue, low self-esteem, poor appetite or overeating, poor concentration or indecisiveness, and hopelessness. The more severe symptoms that mark major depression, including anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure), psychomotor symptoms (particularly lethargy or agitation), and thoughts of death or suicide, are often absent in dysthymia.

Dysthymia can occur alone or in conjunction with other mood or psychiatric disorders. For instance, more than half of people who suffer from dysthymia will experience at least one episode of major depression; this condition is known as double major depressive disorder.

Dysthymia is about as common as major depression, affecting about 6 percent of the United States population. Like major depression, dysthymia occurs twice as often in women as in men.

Symptoms

The main sign of dysthymia is low, dark, or sad mood nearly every day for at least two years. Other symptoms can include:

Poor appetite or overeating
Sleep disturbances
Low energy or fatigue
Low self-esteem
Poor concentration
Feelings of hopelessness
feelings of hopelessness

In dysthymia, these symptoms are not directly a result of a general medical condition or use of substances; in addition, they result in impaired functioning in work, social or personal areas.

Causes

Although its exact cause is unknown, dysthymia, like depression, appears to have its roots in genetic susceptibility and neurochemical imbalances. In addition, chronic stress and trauma can provoke dysthymia. Stress is believed to impair one's ability to regulate moods and prevent mild sadness from deepening and persisting. Social circumstances, particularly isolation and the unavailability of social support, also contribute to dysthymia. This cause can be especially debilitating given that depression often alienates those who are in a position to provide support, resulting in increased isolation and worsening symptoms. In old age, dysthymia is more likely to be the result of medical illness, cognitive decline, bereavement, and physical disability.

Treatment

Psychotherapy

Many people with dysthymia do not get the treatment they need, in many cases because they only see their family doctors, who often fail to diagnose the disorder. Part of the problem is that people suffering from dysthymia believe their symptoms are an inevitable part of life. In older people, dementia, apathy, or irritability can disguise dysthymia. Asking open-ended questions -- such as "How are things at home?" -- can help a physician begin to notice the signs of dysthymia.

Like major depression, dysthymia can be treated with supportive therapy that provides advice, reassurance, sympathy, and education. Like the process of learning, which involves the formation of new connections between nerve cells in the brain, psychotherapy works by changing the way the brain functions. Certain types of psychotherapy, particularly cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT), can help relieve dysthymia. CBT helps patients change the negative styles of thinking and behaving. IPT focuses on working through disturbed personal relationships that may play a role in dysthymia. Preliminary evidence from an ongoing NIMH-supported study indicates that IPT, in particular, may hold promise in the treatment of this disorder.

Medication

As with other forms of depression, there are a number of medication options for people with dysthymia. The most common drug treatments include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors like flouxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft), or one of the newer dual-action antidepressants such as venlafaxine (Effexor). Some patients may respond to tricyclic antidepressants such as imipramine (Tofranil). Antidepressant drugs have a number of side effects that can complicate treatment. For example, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors may cause stomach upset, mild insomnia, and reduced sex drive.

For many patients, a long-term combination of medication and psychotherapy that includes a solid relationship with a mental health professional is the most effective course of treatment. Recovery from dysthymia can take a long time, and the symptoms often return. For this reason, many patients are encouraged to continue doing whatever made them well -- whether it was a drug, therapy, or a combination of the two -- after recovery.

Research Findings

Nearly half of people with dysthymia have a symptom that also occurs in major depression: early onset of REM, the rapid eye movements that usually began later in the night.
A survey commissioned by the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance found that doctors and patients often have poor communication about the symptoms and treatment of depressive disorders, including information about the side effects of medication and the need for routine follow-up visits. This can result in poor patient compliance with treatment.
Another recent telephone survey found that of more than 800 adults with dysthymia, only 20 percent had seen a mental health professional; only 25 percent had received any medication and only about one-third had received some kind of counseling, usually brief.
While the search continues for the most effective treatments of dysthymia, it is most important for the public and health care professionals to recognize that dysthymia is a serious condition that can be identified and treated.

Sources:

American Psychiatric Assocation
National Library of Medicine

Last Reviewed By: Heather Gray