Dysthymia

Diagnosis requires:

1. Presences of depressed mood more than 50% of the days of the last two years.

2. Variable amounts of vegetative signs.

Treatment:

Similar to Major or Minor depression except a longer response time to medications is expected.  Example:  2 –3 months before response can be the case.

Bereavement: A comment should be made about this:

1. 14% will evolve to major depression within 2 years of loss

2. Most of the troubling symptoms of bereavement will resolve within 2 months: e.g. sadness, disturbed sleep, and decreased appetite.

3. Symptoms indicating that bereavement has evolved to major depression include:

1. the usual signs and symptoms of depression

2. morbid preoccupation with guilt of death