Dysthymic Disorder Vs. Clinical Depression

Dysthymia is a chronic mood disorder with symptoms similar to clinical depression. Both can interfere with work and home life and require similar treatments.

Symptoms

• Sadness, low energy, hopeless feelings, sleep and appetite disturbances are common in both dysthymia and clinical depression.

Severity of Symptoms

• If you have dysthymia, your symptoms are less severe than they are in people with depression.

Prevalence

• Dysthyimia affects an estimated three percent of adults in the United States. Depression affects about six percent of adults in the United States.

Duration of Dysthymia Symptoms

• People with dysthymia have experienced symptoms for at least two years. Sometimes they can feel good for up to two months during that time, but the symptoms return.

Effects

• Though dysthymia is less severe than clinical depression, both disorders can negatively affect work performance, personal and family relationships. If left untreated, dysthymia can progress into clinical depression, which can be a life-threatening illness.

Treatment

• Both dysthymia and clinical depression can be treated with anti-depressant medication. Sometimes talk therapy can help as well. With proper treatment, people with dysthymia or clinical depression can feel good again.