Abstract

Focus issues in dysthymia

Author(s): Jitendra K Trivedi, Sujit Kar

Dysthymia (dysthymic disorder) is one of the most commonly encountered psychiatric illnesses in day-to-day practice, affecting approximately one in every 20 people worldwide. Intensity of depressive content and impairment is less in dysthymia in comparison to major depressive disorder, but the management of dysthymia is similar to that of depression. Underlying personality plays a major role in dysthymia. This article focusses on current issues including management and research works of dysthymia. The issue of placement of dysthymia in current classificatory systems is also addressed.