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Dysthymia- Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

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Dysthymia is a behavioral mental disorder and is defined as a mild form of chronic depression.

Written byDr. Sneha Kannan

Medically reviewed byDr. Vandana Patidar

Published At March 19, 2019
Reviewed AtFebruary 26, 2025
Dysthymia- Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

What Is Dysthymia?

Are you feeling depressed for years? Then, you may have dysthymia. Dysthymia is also known as persistent depressive disorder or dysthymic disorder. You will experience mood changes and mood swings for about two years, and symptoms will range between mild and moderate spectrum. It can affect children and adults and can occur at any age. There is no known cause for PDD. Women are more commonly affected by PDD. To officially diagnose someone with dysthymia, the symptoms of depression must last a minimum of two years for adults and one year for minors (children and adolescents).

What Are the Symptoms of Persistent Depressive Disorder?

Do you wonder what could be the symptoms of PDD? Continue reading to know about it.

Some of the common dysthymia symptoms(chronic depression symptoms) include:

  • Poor appetite.

  • Overeating.

  • Low self-esteem.

  • Difficulty concentrating.

  • Fatigue.

  • Feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness.

  • Sleeping disorders.

  • Panic disorders.

  • Anxiety.

  • Substance abuse disorder.

  • A feeling of emptiness.

  • Socially isolated or in seclusion.

  • Continuous feelings of guilt, remorse, and worry.

  • Anger management issues.

  • Constant feeling of anxiousness.

If you experience any of the above symptoms for a long period, you may be having dysthymia. This might be the time to seek professional help to treat the condition as soon as possible.

What Are the Causes and Risk Factors of Dysthymic Disorder?

Though many research studies are being carried out, we are not aware of the exact cause of

dysthymic disorder. Some of the probable causes and risk factors of the dysthymic disorder are:

  • Changes in the chemical levels of the brain (progression of depression has been closely related to low levels of serotonin).

  • Stress.

  • Sex (women are at a greater risk of developing the dysthymic disorder in comparison to men).

  • Positive familial history.

  • Trauma that is experienced at an early age in life.

  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

  • Chronic illnesses.

  • Side effects of medicines.

Are you going through any of the risk factors mentioned above? If so, then you must be aware of the condition to manage it better.

What Is the Difference Between Major Depressive Disorder and Dysthymia?

Dysthymia vs. Depression: Major depressive disorder is more severe than dysthymia, but dysthymia is a milder form of depression. Symptoms of MDD are episodic, while symptoms of PDD are chronic, lasting for more than two years but with less intensity.

How Is Dysthymia Diagnosed?

Dysthymia is difficult to diagnose because of its chronic symptoms. If the physician believes that you may have the condition, he will ask you to perform certain tests, which include -

  • Physical Test: Your physician will examine you physically to determine any physical health issues relating to the symptoms and ask a few questions to be aware of your health.

  • Laboratory Tests: Sometimes, laboratory tests are ordered to find out any changes in your body that may be causing symptoms related to mental illness.

  • Psychological Evaluation: The physician will be asking you to complete a questionnaire. It helps to evaluate your thoughts, emotions, and actions.

How to Treat Dysthymic Disorder?

If dysthymia is not treated, it may progress into major depressive disorder. So, it is necessary to treat the condition.

The dysthymia treatment has three major components:

  1. Medicinal therapy.

  2. Psychotherapy.

  3. Combination therapy.

1. Medicinal Therapy (Dysthymia Medications): Medications include -

  • Tricyclic antidepressants (TCA),

  • Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).

  • selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

If you are diagnosed with PDD, discuss with your physician to determine the correct choice of medication that suits your needs.

2. Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy is an essential component of the treatment plan.

Different types of psychotherapies are:

  • Cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT).

  • Schema therapy.

  • Psychodynamic psychotherapy.

  • Interpersonal psychotherapy.

3. Combination Therapy: It involves combining both medicinal therapy and psychotherapy.

4. Lifestyle Changes and Self-Care Strategies: Lifestyle changes include

  • Eating a well-balanced diet, engaging in physical activities, avoiding alcohol or smoking, and avoiding substance abuse.

  • Split the bigger tasks into smaller ones and concentrate on accomplishing them.

  • Give sufficient time for yourself when you are feeling down.

  • Plan your day before so that it may look simpler to you.

  • Engage yourself in group activities and stay connected with family and friends.

  • Find a support group for people with depression and be a part of it.

Practicing these simple lifestyle changes, you will see a significant difference in your mental and physical health.

What Are the Complications of Dysthymic Disorder?

If you fail to address the disorder promptly, you are at risk of experiencing complications. Some of the complications arising due to the dysthymic disorder are:

  • Poor quality of life.

  • The dysthymic disorder may develop into major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and mood disorders.

  • Substance abuse disorder.

  • Occurrence of co-occurring disorder or dual-diagnosis.

  • Difficulty in both personal and professional relationships.

  • Reduced efforts and productivity in professional and personal life.

  • Chronic illnesses.

  • Suicidal tendencies and behaviors.

  • High risk of developing mental illnesses such as multiple personality disorder or borderline personality disorder.

Living With Persistent Depressive Disorder

With a few lifestyle changes, you can handle the symptoms of persistent depressive disorder and have a good standard of life. Be aware that the symptoms will not go away in a short time; it may require a few months to see improvement in your condition. Learn to handle stress with the help of yoga, meditation, and tai chi.

Conclusion:

Dysthymic disorder, however mild it is, can make an individual feel blue. Feeling blue is a layman's term used to describe depression. Feeling blue includes feeling worthless, hopeless, and, most often, sad without a proper reason. Long-term depression treatment includes medications, psychotherapy, and brain stimulation therapy. Following up on therapy is required to ease the symptoms of dysthymic disorder even after recovering from the disorder.

Keynote From iCliniq:

Dysthymia is a chronic mental health condition that causes depressive symptoms for more than two years or more. The condition will impact your quality of life. If you experience any symptoms related to dysthymia or PDD, consult the physician at the earliest so that it will not make a big difference in your life.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Dysthymia is a psychological condition in which the affected patient suffers from a persistent depressive disorder. In this condition, the affected person has the symptoms of depression that continue to present over a long time. The person continuously lacks interest in daily activities and has low self-confidence. The person also feels a sense of inadequacy.
Dysthymia is usually less severe than the original form of depression. It limits the individual’s normal activities. It is not a physical disability, but it comes under social security disability. If you are suffering from any of these problems, you should consult the doctor immediately.
Dysthymia is frequently called as mild or moderate depression. The symptoms presented are less severe than the actual depression. It can last over a period of one year to two years. With proper professional help, the affected individuals can lead a healthy life. The medications for these treatments will be prescribed by a psychiatrist.
The best treatment for dysthymia is usually psychotherapy, combined with medications. The medications used are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclic Antidepressants, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. All these three groups of drugs are said to be equally effective in dysthymia. These drugs should not be self-medicated. You should get recommendations from your doctor before consuming these medications.
The most commonly used drugs are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs), tricyclic antidepressants, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Antidepressants like Venflaxine, tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA) like Imipramine are very effective in dysthymia. Any person who experiences symptoms of dysthymia must avoid self medications as these medicines have various side effects.
The pure dysthymic syndrome includes recent (in less than two years) onset of dysthymic disorder. Here, the Full criteria for a major depressive episode have not been met in at least the past two years. The patient should present with the symptoms of mild depression only.
The psychological definition of dysthymia is that “ a mood disorder that is characterized by chronic, long-standing mildly depressed or irritable mood which is most frequently accompanied by other symptoms like eating and sleeping disturbances, fatigue, and poor self- confidence. This is also called as the Dysthymic disorder.
It is one one the common psychological problems for which patients come for a consultation in a clinical setting. It is less severe than the actual depression. Globally, it affects almost 1.5% of the world’s population. It is common in women than in men. Worldwide statistics showed that women are affected by approximately 30%, while men are affected only by 1.9%.
Dysthymia and cyclothymia are two different psychological problems. Dysthymia is a mild, long-standing form of depression and cyclothymia is a soft case of bipolar disorder. Cyclothymia involves fluctuating between mild depression and mild mania. The person will also be normal in cyclothymia at times. These diseases have mild depressive symptoms in common that might confuse the diagnosis of the disease.
If someone is suffering from dysthymia, all we can do is support them in every possible means and ways. We should ensure that they are going to be okay. When they are going through the symptomatic phase, we can be there for them and help them reach the mental health care professional. The important support would be by not discriminating for the illness they are going through.
Dysthymia is a mild depressive disorder comparatively, and it is diagnosed if the person has experienced depression for at least one whole year. A major depressive disorder is more severe when the affected person experiences major symptoms, and 90 percent of the kids who are treated for this disorder respond very well to treatment.
Prope guidance from a psychologist is mandatory to beat dysthymia. Proper intake of the medication prescribed on the correct dosages is essential. It is also necessary to build healthy self-esteem through lifestyle changes and psychotherapy sessions. Ask your doctor to teach you a few ways to beat dysthymia.
Dysthymia cannot be cured naturally in most instances. Proper medical treatment and psychological guidance are needed most of the time. However, through some natural lifestyle changes, the recovery can be made easier. Lifestyle changes like healthy food intake, meditation, yoga, good restful sleep, and mindful avoidance of destructive behaviors and triggers of depression could be helpful.
Dysthymia lasts typically for about two years in adults. It does not exceed that time period if adequately treated. Proper treatment would require psychotherapy and medicines intake, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). If lifestyle modifications are added to it, dysthymia will not progress; it can also be a short-term disability.
Dysthymia is characterized by persistent depressive disorders or the group of mood disorders. However, the symptoms of dysthymia usually present as a gloomy personality. The affected person usually complains of not being happy, being less productive, being less interested in daily activities. Those changes in mood affect the individual’s normal functioning routine. It is not a personality disorder.
Only when dysthymia limits the quality of work in the affected individual’s normal routine, it is qualified as a disability. If not, it does not comes under disability. It is less severe than the actual major depressive disorder. It presents with more severe symptoms and social disability. Dysthymia often recovers on its own with proper treatment and psychological guidance.
Dysthymia and Bipolar can not be diagnosed at the same time. However, the main symptom of dysthymia is depression. The combination of depressive symptoms usually mimics the symptoms of Bipolar. But it is important to note that, In Bipolar disorder, the patient suffers from severe cycles between mania and depression, which is not common with dysthymia. Bipolar disorder is a more severe disorder when compared to dysthymia.
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