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Wednesday, November 11, 2009
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Dysthymia

Definition

Dysthymia is a chronic type of depression in which a person's moods are regularly low. However, it is not as extreme as other types of depression.


Alternative Names

Neurotic depression (dysthymia); Dysthymic disorder; Chronic depression; Depression - chronic


Causes, incidence, and risk factors

The exact cause of dysthymia is unknown.

As with major depressive disorder, dysthymia occurs more women in women than in men and affects up to 5% of the general population. Dysthymia can occur alone, or together with more severe depression or another mood or psychiatric disorder.



Review Date: 08/22/2008
Reviewed By: Timothy A. Rogge, MD, private practice in Psychiatry, Kirkland, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).
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