Dysthymia

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Dysthymia
By Johnson Steele, Ashley Cooke, Jessie Denny
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What is Dysthymia?

• The word Dysthymia comes from Greek roots
  meaning bad state of mind or ill humor

• Dysthymia is a mood disorder similar to clinical
  depression, yet milder.
• Dysthymia is known to last for at least two
  years.
• People who are diagnosed with the disorder,
  usually are not hospitalized, unlike clinical
  depression patients, and can continue to work.
• Dysthymia is more common in people who are poor,
  or unmarried, and those who have a family history
  of depression

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Symptoms
Loss of enjoyment in activities Displays
anger Always feeling tired Concentration
troubles Low energy level Displays a
depressed mood daily.

• Anti-social behavior
• Shy
• Conflicts with family/friends
• Poor performance in school
• Sleeping patterns are off
• Low self-esteem

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Prognosis and Progression

• Dysthymia is a depression disorder that most
  people make a full recovery from.
• The longer that the Dysthymia disorder lasts, the
  slower the recovery.
• The longer is takes to diagnose, the more the
  sufferer believes that feeling depressed is
  normal.

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Possible Causes

• The actual cause of Dysthymia is unknown.
• However
• A strong family history in depression, can
  increase chances of developing the disorder.
• Chemistry imbalances in the brain are linked with
  a persons mood and can affect the thoughts and
  behaviors of that person.
• Serotonin is involved in the cause of major
  depression and may also be involved in causing
  Dysthymia.

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Interesting Facts

• Like major depression, Dysthymia occurs twice as
  often in women as it does in men.
• Usually only last 1 year for children or teens,
  and their mood is more irritable than depressed.
• Dysthymia is more common in people who are poor,
  or unmarried, and those who have a family history
  of depression
• Dysthymia is a condition that develops early in a
  persons life, but seeking treatment is usually
  delayed for about 10 years.
• A rate of 3 of the worlds population will suffer
  from Dysthymia at some point in their life.

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Aspects of brain functioning involved

• In the state of depression the bodies stress
  response systems are constantly rewiring.
• Your body releases hormones that prepare you for
  possible danger, which activates the stress
  response system. This increases blood pressure,
  blood sugar/fat levels and adrenaline.
• The brains fight or flight response is always
  turned on and the amygdala grows in size, while
  the hippocampus shrinks.

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Treatments Available

• Psychotherapy and cognitive therapy, are both
  used to adjust a patients thoughts of self
  destruction.
• Behavioral therapy to help people to communicate
  better with family and friends.
• Medications such as Monoamine Oxidase
  inhibitors, and Anti depressants.
• Change of lifestyle such as eating healthy,
  exercise, no caffeine, alcohol, or drugs.

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• Questions or Concerns?

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References

• "Al-Hikmah Health Education." Dysthymia. 2005.
  Al-Hikmah Health Education. 01 Apr. 2006
  lthttp//www.al-hikmah.org/dysthymia.aspgt.
• "Depression Different Types of Dysthymia." Mood
  Disorders Society of Canada. Mood Disorders
  Society of Canada. 03 Apr. 2006
  lthttp//www.mooddisorderscanada.ca/depression/dyst
  hymia.htmgt.
• "Dysthmia." 17 August 2005. 01 Apr. 2006
  lthttp//www.psycom.net/depression.central.dysthymi
  a.htmlgt.
• Dysthymia. 2001. National Mental Health
  Association. 01 Apr. 2006 lthttp//www.nmha.org/inf
  octr/factsheets/26.cfmgt.
• "Dysthymia." Depressive Issues. 2001. 01 Apr.
  2006 lthttp//www.depressionissues.com/ms/ency/434/
  main.htmlgt.