Search results
- DictionaryDys·thy·mi·a/disˈTHīmēə/
noun
- 1. persistent mild depression: "in some, at least two years of dysthymia lead to recurring major depression"
Yahoo Web Search
Persistent depressive disorder
Persistent depressive disorder is a continuous, long-term form of depression. You may feel sad and empty, lose interest in daily activities and have trouble getting things done. You may also have low self-esteem, feel like a failure and feel hopeless. These feelings last for years and may interfere with your relationships, school, work and daily activities.
If you have persistent depressive disorder, you may find it hard to be upbeat even on happy occasions. You may be described as having a gloomy personality, constantly complaining ...
When to seek medical or mental health expertAlways seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your health. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the community.Persistent depressive disorder symptoms usually come and go over a period of years. The intensity of symptoms can change over time. But symptoms usually don't disappear for more than two months at a time. Also, major depression episodes may occur before or during persistent depressive disorder.
Symptoms of persistent depressive disorder can cause major problems in your life and may include:
- Sadness, emptiness or feeling down.
- Loss of interest in daily activities....
The exact cause of persistent depressive disorder is not known. As with major depression, it may involve more than one cause, such as:
- Biological differences. People with persistent depressive disorder may have physical changes in their brains. It's not clear how these changes affect the disorder, but they may eventually help determine the causes.
- Brain chemistry. Neurotransmitters are naturally occurring brain chemicals. Research indicates that changes in neurotra...
The two main treatments for persistent depressive disorder are medicines and talk therapy. What your health care provider recommends depends on factors such as:
- How severe your symptoms are.
- Your desire to explore emotional or other issues affecting your life.
- Previous treatment methods.
- Your ability to tolerate medicines.
- Other emotional problems you may have....
There's no sure way to prevent persistent depressive disorder. Because it often starts in childhood or during the teenage years, identifying children at risk of the condition may help them get early treatment.
Strategies that may help reduce or prevent symptoms include the following:
- Take steps to control stress, to increase your ability to recover from problems — which is called resilience — and to boost your self-esteem....
For informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
© Mayo Clinic
Also Search for
Teen depression Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) Mood disorders Bipolar disorder
