What You Should Know About Dysthymic Disorder

Dysthymia is a milder form of depression than what you typically think of when you think of a depressed patient. You might think of dysthymic disorder as being at the one end of the depression spectrum while major depressive disorder is at the other end. People who suffer from dysthymia might go on with their lives for years without any treatment whatsoever. The casual observer might view a patient and simply state that they are despondent. In reality though, the patients have a true medical illness that responds well to therapy.

Dysthymic disorder affects approximately 1.5 percent of the population with women being affected slightly more than men. Patients have a very hard time finding happiness and satisfaction with the activities of everyday life. They often have low self-esteem and difficulty in making decisions. Fatigue and low-energy also accompany this disorder. More often than not, sleeping and eating patterns will also be affected with the majority of patients sleeping more and eating less.

Researchers are not sure as to the exact cause of dysthymic disorder. While there may be a genetic component, current thinking seems to point towards social isolation, personal setbacks, and ongoing stressful situations. The unique characteristic of dysthymia is that more than three-quarters of the patients have some other chronic problem such as a physical illness, a substance abuse problem or another type of psychiatric condition. Clinicians often have a hard time determining exactly what came first, the dysthymia or the secondary issue because the onset lines are often blurred.

Treatment options for dysthymic disorder start with a thorough work-up with the patient to determine any underlying causes. A few of the modalities that have been proven to be effective include psychotherapy and cognitive-behavior therapy. Talking through the problems with the patient is very beneficial and helps to dispel any myths that they may be harboring such as feelings of worthlessness. Beyond individual therapy, group therapy helps to build a patient's confidence and social interaction skills.

Pharmaceutical options for dysthymic disorder include several families of medications that have enjoyed wide spread success rates. Anti-anxiety drugs help to mitigate the stress that is often found in dysthymia patients. Additionally, agents which help boost the serotonin level in a patient are also used with much success. Very often, a period of trial and error is needed before a patient will see the positive results that are needed for them to join main-stream society again.

Chris is a practicing pharmacist who writes on health care topics. You can see Chris's latest website on Manic Depressive Free and learn all about the symptoms, treatment and related information such as Manic Depressive Treatment and much more.

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