Dysthymia
Dysthymia is a little known and little diagnosed depressive illness in Britain. That is not to say there are very few sufferers, in fact in its mildest form there will be many suffers who would never suspect they are ill (see symptoms below). Or when dianosed, 'they feel a fraud', in that they do not feel they have an illness that justifies such a diagnosis. In its more severe form also called Double Depression most who visit a doctor will be diagnosed with depression. Although not a wrong diagnosis dysthymia has added complications.
Please note if you any of these sound familiar please do not self diagnose please see you GP (Doctor).
Symptoms of Dysthymia
In mild Dysthymia the sufferer may not know there is anything wrong. Symptoms are very vague and can only be established by comparison with non suffers. The sufferer will likely tired a little more than normal, not have quite as much energy, concentrate less than normal and find dealing with things and people harder than. In other words feel a little run down but not enough to see a doctor. What is worse in Dysthymia this feeling can go on for months or years so much so that the sufferer just accepts this as normal.
Severe Dysthymia also known as Double Depression has the same symptoms as Depression except that it tends to last longer and can reoccur. Dysthymia according to Merck's manual is:-
In dysthymic disorder, depressive symptoms typically begin insidiously in childhood or adolescence and pursue an intermittent or low-grade course over many years or decades; major depressive episodes may complicate it (double depression). In pure dysthymia, depressive manifestations occur at a subthreshold level and overlap considerably with those of a depressive temperament: habitually gloomy, pessimistic, humorless, or incapable of fun; passive and lethargic; introverted; skeptical, hypercritical, or complaining; self-critical, self-reproaching, and self-derogatory; and preoccupied with inadequacy, failure, and negative events.
Officially the symptoms of Depression as defined in DSM-IV ( Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ) are:-
1. At least two years of symptoms, including more days then not of depressed mood.
2. While depressed at least two of the following:
A. Feelings of hopelessness.
B. Impairment in cognitive functioning.( E.g.,Hard time concentrating, Hard time in making decisions )
C. Loss of appetite or overeating.
D. Low levels of energy or fatigue.
E. Low self-esteem.
F. Problems with sleep.( E.g.,Insomnia,Hypersomnia )
3. At no time in the two years of symptoms,has there been a symptom free period that lasted two or more months, of 1 and 2 above.
4.At no time in the two years of symptoms,has there been a Major Depressive, Manic or Mixed Episode.
5. The symptoms are not from another disorder or a substance.
6. Clinically significant distress from symptoms,or impairment in work, social,or other areas of important functioning.
NOTE: One year in children and adolescents NOT TWO.
|
