What is persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia)?

Dysthymia is a chronic type of depression but with less severity than major depressive disorder. It is characterized by a depressed mood for most of the day, for more days than not. Some symptoms include, feelings of hopelessness, low self esteem, poor appetite or overeating, and poor concentration.

How do members experience persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia)?

Top 5 symptoms reported by people with persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia)*

*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.

Top treatments taken by people for persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia)*

*Data from patients with persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia), who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Compare treatments taken by people with persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia)*

Treatment
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment

(Wellbutrin)
Perceived effectiveness
for persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) (15 evaluations)
Side effects
aggressive behavior nausea 1 more
Total evaluations
15
Tried for
persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) (27)
Treatment

(Lexapro)
Perceived effectiveness
for persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) (7 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
8
Tried for
persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) (6)
Treatment

(Cymbalta)
Perceived effectiveness
for persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) (11 evaluations)
Side effects
weight gain
Total evaluations
14
Tried for
persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) (5)
Treatment

(Talk therapy)
Perceived effectiveness
for persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) (3 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
3
Tried for
persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) (5)
Treatment

(Prozac)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) (3)

*Data from patients with persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia), who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Who has persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) on PatientsLikeMe?

Age

Age Proportion # of patients
<20 20
20s 267
30s 1,675
40s 3,018
50s 3,421
60s 2,917
70+ 1,556

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 4,274
Female 8,642

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What is persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia)?

Dysthymia is a chronic type of depression but with less severity than major depressive disorder. It is characterized by a depressed mood for most of the day, for more days than not. Some symptoms include, feelings of hopelessness, low self esteem, poor appetite or overeating, and poor concentration.



Common symptoms reported by people with persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia)

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it

Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.
Last updated:



Treatments taken by people for persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia)

Treatment name(s)
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Wellbutrin)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
1,471
Treatment name(s)

(Lexapro)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
846
Treatment name(s)

(Cymbalta)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
963
Treatment name(s)

(Talk therapy)
Type
Psychotherapy
How many have tried
2,954
Treatment name(s)

(Prozac)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
3,120

Data from patients with persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia), who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
Last updated:


Compare treatments taken by people with persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia)

Treatment name(s)
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Wellbutrin)
Perceived effectiveness
for persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) (15 evaluations)
Side effects
aggressive behavior nausea 1 more
Total evaluations
15
Treatment name(s)

(Lexapro)
Perceived effectiveness
for persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) (7 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
8
Treatment name(s)

(Cymbalta)
Perceived effectiveness
for persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) (11 evaluations)
Side effects
weight gain
Total evaluations
14
Treatment name(s)

(Talk therapy)
Perceived effectiveness
for persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) (3 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
3
Treatment name(s)

(Prozac)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
  • Major
  • Moderate
  • Slight
  • None
  • Can't tell
  • Severe
  • Moderate
  • Mild
  • None

Data from patients with persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia), who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
Last updated:



Who has persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) on PatientsLikeMe?

  • 6 new patients joined this month
  • 2,109 say persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) is their primary condition

Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 20
20s 267
30s 1,675
40s 3,018
50s 3,421
60s 2,917
70+ 1,556
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 1,351
20-29 years 451
30-39 years 280
40-49 years 160
50-59 years 72
60-69 years 9
70+ years 2

Distribution of sex

Sex
Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 4,274
Female 8,642

Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 3,571
Not Diagnosed 2,194

These charts show data from persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) patients who have completed their condition history
Last updated: