Things Everyone Should Know About Dysthymic Disorder

Related Disorders Continued

A significant component of dysthymia and other mood disorders is anhedonia, which is the decreased or complete inability to experience pleasure. This can impact eating, playing games, exercise, hobbies, singing, sexual activities, or social interactions. It is believed to be caused by a disruption in the brain's pleasure response and poor dopamine regulation. Anhedonia is prevalent in schizophrenia. It has high rates of comorbidity with depression and social anxiety, as well as other mood disorders, including dysthymia. It can be consummatory (a lack of pleasure in typically pleasurable experiences) or motivational (a lack of desire to engage in enjoyable activities).

History

While traditionally considered a passive, less severe form of depression, dysthymia was originally measured solely by the level of enjoyment observed in patients. Later studies of the disorder concluded there were two categories of dysthymic patients. The first is anxious dysthymia, characterized by pronounced restlessness, low self-esteem, and sensitivity to interpersonal rejection. The second is anergic dysthymia, which is characterized by symptoms like anhedonia, hypersomnia, and chronically low energy levels. The fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) consolidated the definitions of dysthymic disorder and chronic major depressive disorder under a single classification: persistent depressive disorder.