2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
