Dysthymia (or dysthymic disorder) is a form of depression characterized by a lack of enjoyment/pleasure in life that continues for at least two years. It differs from clinical depression in the severity of the symptoms. Dysthymia can, though not always, prevent a person from functioning, affecting sleep patterns and daily activities.

Dysthymia may seem a paradoxical disorder in that sufferers exhibit fairly mild symptoms on a day-to-day basis, however, over a lifetime it can have severe effects including high rates of suicide, work impairment, and social isolation. The symptoms of patients with dysthymic disorder are not as severe as those associated with major depression; however, the duration of these symptoms is much longer. When a major depressive episode occurs on top of dysthymia, clinicians may refer to the resultant condition as double depression.

Dysthymic Disorder is characterized as a chronic depression, but with less severity than a major depression. The essential symptom involves the individual feeling depressed almost daily for at least two years, but without the criteria necessary for a major depression. Low energy, disturbances in sleep or in appetite, and low self-esteem typically contribute to the clinical picture as well. Note the following diagnostic criteria:

a) On the majority of days for 2 years or more, the patient reports depressed mood or appears
depressed to others for most of the day;

b) When depressed, the patient has 2 or more of:

Appetite decreased or increased
Sleep decreased or increased
Fatigue or low energy
Poor self-image
Reduced concentration or indecisiveness
Feels hopeless

c) During this 2 year period, the above symptoms are never absent longer than 2 consecutive months;

d) During the first 2 years of this syndrome, the patient has not had a Major Depressive Episode;.

e) The patient has had no Manic, Hypomanic or Mixed Episodes commonly associated with
bipolar disorder.

f ) The patient has never fulfilled criteria for Cyclothymic Disorder;

g) The disorder does not exist solely in the context of a chronic psychosis (such as Schizophrenia
or Delusional Disorder);

h) The symptoms are not directly caused by a general medical condition or the use of
substances, including prescription medications;

i) The symptoms cause clinically important distress or impair work, social or personal functioning.

Prevalence rates for dysthymia are sketchy as sufferers often experience symptoms for many years before it is diagnosed, if diagnosis occurs at all. People around them come to believe that the sufferer is 'just a moody person'.

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