Dysthymia is the medical term for chronic depression, which is a mood disorder that is not quite as severe as major depressive disorder but whose symptoms are of greater endurance than in classic clinical depression. In adults, dysthymia indicates the presence of unrelenting depressive symptoms for two years or more, while in children and teens it indicates the presence of these symptoms for a year or more. Such symptoms can include low self-esteem, a lack of energy, and an inability to experience feelings of pleasure from certain activities. This condition often coincides with the presence of another type of mental disorder, leading some to refer to it as “double depression.” Effective treatments for dysthymia may include psychotherapy as well as antidepressants and other medications.
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