Dysthymia is a disturbance of mood. The essential feature is a chronic disturbance of mood of at least two years duration, involving either depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure in all or almost all usual activities and pastimes.

Associated symptoms occur but not all of sufficient severity to meet the criteria for a major depressive episode. It is also called neurotic depression.

Dysthymia (or dysthymic disorder) is a chronic state of mild depression that lasts for years. It is believed...