What is the difference between dysthymia and major depression?
The simple answer is severity, but let me expand on this further.
Technically, dysthymia is a pervasive "low level" depression that lasts a long time – often a few years. "Major Depression" is a discrete episode of severe depression. When it is gone, the patient is in "remission,” and feels completely normal.
"Recurrent major depression" comprises discrete periods of major depression that come and go, while "major depression in...
Difference In Depression And Dysthymia
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From Our Sources
Dysthymia
Source: HealthCentral Encyclopedia
Dysthymia is a disturbance of mood. The essential feature is a chronic disturbance of mood of at least two years duration, involving either depressed... Read more »
Dysthymia
Source: ADAM Encyclopedia
Dysthymia is a chronic type of depression in which a person's moods are regularly low. However, symptoms are not as severe as with major depression. ... Read more »
Dysthymia
Source: ADAM Encyclopedia
Neurotic depression (dysthymia); Dysthymic disorder; Chronic depression; Depression - chronic Symptoms The main symptom of dysthymia is... Read more »
Dysthymia
Source: ADAM Encyclopedia
Neurotic depression (dysthymia); Dysthymic disorder; Chronic depression; Depression - chronic Prevention References Institute... Read more »
Depression Issues: What are the causes of depression and the r...
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