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...
Dysthymia Vs. Major Depressive
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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 Treatment Treatment for dysthymia includes... Read more »
Dysthymia
Source: ADAM Encyclopedia
Neurotic depression (dysthymia); Dysthymic disorder; Chronic depression; Depression - chronic Prevention References Institute... Read more »
Major Depression
Source: Harvard Decision Guide
What Is It? Major depression is an illness that usually causes severe and persistent low mood â sadness or a sense of despair. It is considered... Read more »
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