Major Dysthymia

*Dysthymia: low mood occurring for at least two years, along with at least two other symptoms of depression.

A major depressive episode is not a disorder in itself, but rather more of a description or symptoms of part of a disorder most often depressive disorder or bipolar. A person suffering from a major depressive episode must have a depressed mood or a loss of interest in daily activities consistently for a minimum of a two-week time span (Psych Central, 2013). In diagnosing the mood must reflect a change from the person’s normal mood. A person’s daily activities and functions, such as work, social routines and friends, education, family, and relationships must also have been negatively impacted by the change in their mood. A major depressive episode is also identified by presence of five or more of the following symptoms. The patient can show signs of significant weight loss or weight gain even not dieting or trying to lose or gain weight. The patient will also display a change in appetite almost everyday, either with an increase or a decrease in their normal eating habits. The weight change is typically set at an increase or decrease in weight of more than 5% per month. The patient will display a depressed mood almost the entire day and this sadness, emptiness, loneliness, crying, and distant is observed by others or indicted by the patient, is typically

First of all it is important to understand what really constitutes depression. All of us feel down from time to time perhaps based on having a "bad day". However when feelings of sadness last for several weeks, months, or years, and are accompanied by other symptoms such as change of appetite, isolation from family and friends, sleeplessness, etc. these are symptoms of depression.

Clinical Manifestations and DSM 5 Criteria Bipolar major depression causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or daily functioning that is not attributed by another medical condition or current substance abuse (APA, 2013). During a two week period of time, the patient will display at least five or more the following depressive symptoms daily or nearly every day: 1) depressed mood most of the day, feels sad, empty, hopeless 2) markedly diminished interest or pleasure in nearly all activities 3) significant weight loss or weight gain without purposeful dieting, increased or decreased appetite 4) insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day 5) psychomotor agitation or retardation observable by others 6) fatigue or loss of energy 7) feelings of worthlessness or excessive feelings of guilt 8) diminished ability to think, or concentrate, indecisiveness 9) recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal ideation with or without specific plans or attempts (APA, 2013)

Now to explain what depression is. Depression as explain by https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml are as follows. Depression (major depressive disorder or clinical depression) is a common but serious mood disorder. It causes severe symptoms that affect how you feel, think, and handle daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working. To be diagnosed with depression, the symptoms must be present for at least two weeks. As a person that deals with this issue from time to time I can say its most definitely a very terrible condition to have. As it over you making you feel like not wanting to do anything anymore or

Major depressive disorder is a condition when a person experiences two or more weeks of depressed mood or lack of interest in things that usually gave them pleasure not due to any drugs or other medical condition. For this condition to be present a person must show at least five signs of depression (classified as: depressed mood most of the day; diminished interest in activities; significant weight loss or weight gain when not dieting; insomnia or too much sleep; lethargy; fatigue; feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt; difficulty concentrating or thinking; and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide). Bipolar disorder on the other hand is when an individual alternates between hopelessness and an overexcited state of mania. Mood disorders run in families. Women are at twice the risk of having depression and today we find that depression is widespread. Although the majority of depressive episodes end on their own they are usually induced by a stressful event. The risk of suicide or self-injury is higher in individuals who are

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, depression is the leading cause of disability in America for people ages 15 to 44. Unfortunately, it is still widely misunderstood, which causes people to neglect themselves. There are so many different forms, the most major two being major depressive disorder and dysthymia. Symptoms can vary in the way they manifest themselves, and causes are still widely unknown. Luckily, there are many treatment options available. Understanding depression is the best way to combat it.

Major depression is the second ranking disability causing disease in the United States and eleventh in the world (Coryell, 2016). Some common signs and symptoms are frequent depressed mood, difficulty concentrating and loss of enjoyment or interest in daily activities. The person may experience an unintentional weight loss or gain, defined as more than

The current American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV), criteria for the diagnosis of depression include: (1) changes in appetite and weight; (2) disturbed sleep; (3) motor agitation or retardation; (4) fatigue and loss of energy; (5) depressed or irritable mood; (6) loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities; (7) feelings of worthlessness, self-reproach, excessive guilt; (8) suicidal thinking or attempts; and (9) difficulty with thinking or concentration. (Espinoza & Kaufman, 2014, p.2).

Depression is considered a mood disorder that affects an individual’s daily life. Health professionals diagnose patients with depression, if the symptoms persist longer than two weeks. Depression can be categorized into different types. Persistent depressive (dysthymia) lasts for a minimum of two years. The individual might have episodes of major depression. Perinatal depression is described as a woman becoming depressed during pregnancy or after giving birth. Many women become socially imbalanced and have anxiety, which leads to difficulties to taking care of their new born. Psychotic depression is diagnosed when someone has extreme depression and a form of psychosis. Many people with psychotic depression can have delusions and hallucinations.

Yet its less severe, the symptoms seem too last a lot longer, in order to be diagnosed with Dysthymic Disorder the person has to have a milder depression for more than two years to be consider to have dysthymia.in a depressed mood at least two of the symptoms are mainly shown such as changes in sleep patterns, feelings of hopelessness, fatigue or low energy, changes in appetite, low self-esteem and difficulties making decisions or poor concentration. Dysthymic Disorder affects about 3 and 6 percent of the population each year. But men are less likely to be diagnosed with dysthymia than women. Approximately 10 percent of people with Dysthymia will go on to develop Major Depression, while the other 10 percent will get better without the need of any treatments. The other 80 percent or so of people with Dysthymia may drift in a Dysthymic condition for years. In other words the same treatments that work to help people suffering with Major Depression are also helpful for the individuals who are suffering with Dysthymic

Major Depressive Disorder is marked by sadness and any four of the following seven criteria: weight loss or weight gain, insomnia or hypersomnia, motor slowing or agitation, fatigue, worthlessness or guilt, impaired concentration, and thoughts of suicide or suicide attempt. Those with Major Depressive Disorder have never had mania or hypomania and may also have anxiety symptoms. When the Major Depressive Disorder is combined with melancholic features, then the person has a “loss of pleasure in all, or almost all, activities [and has a] lack of reactivity to usually pleasurable stimuli (does not feel better, even temporarily, when something good happens” (American Psychiatric Association, p. 185). Observations made by others, such as being tearful, is also a criterion of this disorder (American

Dysthymic Disorder causes you to have a low mood for as long as a year, sometimes even longer. What this means is that you will feel sad a lot of the time. The symptoms you would experience would be sadness, feeling tired very often, changes in eating habits, and changes in sleeping habits. About 2% of the American population has this type of depression. The best treatment would be therapy as opposed to medication, although combining the two might result in a faster improvement.

Dysthymia is another form of depression, but it’s not as severe. This disorder can be a chronic illness that is long lasting. Dysthymia occurs every day for one year or less in teens. Some of the symptoms are fatigue, appetite deprivation and low self- esteem. The Primary Care Journal states that dysthymia only affects 3 percent of the population and it is associated with functional impairment. (www.en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/dysthymia). Individuals who are diagnosed with dysthymia usually don’t notice that they are experiencing depression. They are able to carry out their daily lives.

DSM-5 criteria defines major depressive disorder would be qualified for a diagnosis if it demonstrate five or more of the following symptoms during the same 2-week period and represent a change from previous functioning: depressed mood, marked diminished interests or pleasure in activities, significant changes in weight or appetite, insomnia/hypersomnia, psychomotor agitation, fatigue, hopeless and worthless feelings, diminished concentration, and suicide thoughts or intentions (Kosslyn, Rosenberg, & Lambert, 2012). Previous literatures have identified a number of possible causes that may lead to depression, such as genetics, brain differences, social factors like poverty, ethnicity, and childhood experience (Read, J. & Sanders, P., 2010). There are different schools that use different theories as the basis to analyse how psychological problems and symptoms start and develop into life-affecting depression and distress.