Summary

• Common form of chronic depression but with less severity than major depressive disorder.
• Frequently misdiagnosed because the correct criteria to diagnose this condition are often not applied. The DSM-IV-TR, published by the American Psychiatric Association, indicates the diagnostic criteria for dysthymia.
• Associated with significant functional impairment (including unemployment, single marital status, greater healthcare utilisation, greater utilisation of public entitlements).
• Patients may respond to psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, or a combination of both.
• Patients require a longer treatment period, more psychotherapy sessions, and/or higher doses of antidepressant medication compared with patients with acute forms of depression.
• Can often be complicated by major depressive episodes (double depression).
• As with other mood disorders it is frequently comorbid with other psychiatric and medical conditions.