Persistent Depressive Disorder
A mild but long-term form of depression.
Dysthymia is defined as a low mood occurring for at least two years, along with at least two other symptoms of depression.
Examples of symptoms include lost interest in normal activities, hopelessness, low self-esteem, low appetite, low energy, sleep changes, and poor concentration.
Treatments include medications and talk therapy.
Cluster Number:
Wiki Number: PW161
Diagnosis: Persistent Depressive Disorder-Dysthymia
US Patients: 3-6% during lifetime
World Patients: 105 Mil per year (1.5% of the population)
Sex Ratio:
Age Onset: 21, before 21 called “early onset”
Brain Area: In women, the corpus callosum and frontal lobes differ from normal; the amygdala, insula (sadness) and cingulate gyrus(emotions)
Symptoms: 2-years for adults; 1-year for children, deep depression with longer-lasting insomnia or hypersomnia and low self-esteem
Progression: little enjoyment in anything, suicidal behaviors, other disorders or addictions; hopelessness about life
Causes: genetic for 50% of cases; 75% have other physical illnesses, disorders or addictions; 95% have episodes of major depression.
Medications: antidepressants, but 6-8 weeks before progress; SSRIs, lithium
Therapies: cognitive therapy, better sleep, exercise
Youtube Video:
Life with Persistent Depressive Disorder (also known as Dysthymia)
Amazon or Library Book: Persistent Depressive Disorders
Click the book to link or order from Amazon.
Support Group: feelingkindablue.org; 866-728-7983
(Provident Behavioral Health)
Contact your local Social Security office for possible Disability Benefits through their Disability Determination Services,
Section 12.04
4 CURRENT ARTICLES
FROM PUBMED
The world-wide medical research
reports chosen for each diagnosis
Clicking each title opens the
PubMed article’s summary-abstract.
- The effect of repetitive and Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on quantitative electroencephalography in major depressive disorderby Reyhan Ilhan on January 21, 2025
CONCLUSION: Following 30 sessions of rTMS with a F8 coil and dTMS with an H1 coil, notable alterations in qEEG activity with clinical significance were discerned. The persistence of these changes should be investigated in the subsequent follow-up period.
- Impact of Post-Stroke Post-Traumatic Stress Disorderby Swetha Renati on January 20, 2025
CONCLUSION: Post-Stroke Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PS-PTSD) is prevalent after stroke and TIA with patients experiencing concurrent depressive symptoms, correlating with a worsened quality of life.
- Using Virtual Reality to Promote Self-Identity Reconstruction as the Main Focus of Therapyby Alejandro Garcia-Gutierrez on January 18, 2025
Based on the repertory grid technique, we developed Explore Your Meanings (EYME), a digital platform that helps patients explore identity values and internal conflicts using virtual reality (VR). EYME was part of a research project treating depression in young adults, including 10 weekly, 1-h sessions aimed at changing personal constructs-cognitive schemas that shape how individuals interpret reality. We present the case of Mary, a 21-year-old woman diagnosed with persistent major depressive...
- Risk and Protective Factors for the Evolution of Subthreshold Depression During Early Adolescenceby Keyin Chen on January 17, 2025
PURPOSE: Subthreshold depression refers to a condition involving clinically significant depressive symptoms that fall short of meeting the diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD). Identifying risk and protective factors associated with the progression of subthreshold depression in early life is essential for timely prevention. However, there is limited research on this topic among early adolescents.