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) (10 evaluations)
Side effects
aggressive behavior chest pain 4 more
Total evaluations
10
Tried for
persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) (31)
Treatment

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

(Cymbalta)
Perceived effectiveness
for persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) (6 evaluations)
Side effects
weight gain
Total evaluations
9
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) (2)

*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 15
20s 325
30s 1,861
40s 3,066
50s 3,369
60s 2,764
70+ 1,307

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 4,250
Female 8,528