Depressive disorder or dysthymia differences. Dysthymia is a precursor to clinical depression. Symptoms. Characterological and somatized dysthymia

Dysthymia is the same depression, only depressive symptoms are not very pronounced. The diagnosis of dysthymia is made when moderate signs of depression are present for a long time (at least two years).

What a multifaceted depression. Especially if you look at this disease from the perspective of psychiatry. Depression alternates with bouts of excessively elevated mood - this is no longer just depression, but. Everything is the same, but only the degree of mood swings is less - here you have cyclothymia (which you can read about).

The periodic appearance of attacks of severe depression and only, not accompanied by episodes of high spirits, a violent desire to do something, is a recurrent depressive disorder. And finally, a prolonged decrease in mood, along with symptoms of asthenia or characterological changes, are characteristic of dysthymia.

Why does the disease occur

Why dysthymia occurs, finally, scientists have not yet figured out. There is evidence of a hereditary predisposition to the development of dysthymia. The appearance of symptoms of dysthymia is associated with a violation of the metabolism of a very important substance for the brain - serotonin.

Stress, conflict situations, loss of a loved one can provoke the development of symptoms of the disease at the initial stage.

Symptoms

Dysthymia is a chronic disease. It occurs mainly at a young age (up to 21 years). The severity of the symptoms of this emotional disorder never reaches such an extreme as in recurrent depressive disorder.

Already at the initial stages of the disease, somatovegetative and asthenic symptoms predominate. Most often, patients complain of poor health, tearfulness, shortness of breath, palpitations, constipation, poor sleep with frequent awakenings.

To completely take melancholy, and in general I didn’t want to do anything - this is not characteristic of dysthymia. But the feeling of anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and general malaise are symptoms characteristic of dysthymia. Along with a lowered mood, somatovegetative symptoms may occur - heart palpitations, increased sweating, trembling.

Dysthymia can also be called if its symptoms persist for two years or more.

At first, the appearance of signs of depression can provoke stressful situations, unresolved conflicts, but over time, external events affect the severity of symptoms less and less.

Dysthymia can be somatized and characterological.

Somatized variant of the flow

At the initial stages, the main symptoms are impotence, anxious fears for one's health, internal tension, combined with vegetative disorders - heart palpitations, sweating, dizziness, trembling in the fingers, abdominal discomfort. The severity of these symptoms is closely related to external events.

Over time, anxiety and restlessness can be replaced by lethargy and a feeling of physical impotence. There may be another scenario - increased anxiety develops into heightened self-observation of one's state of health, the appearance (or intensification) of pathological fears of the development of various diseases - cancer, heart disease (carcinophobia, cardiophobia).

characterological variant

The leading symptoms of characterological dysthymia are a tendency to blues, a decrease or complete loss of the ability to enjoy (anhedonia), thoughts about the meaninglessness of life,. All events, even absolutely neutral values, are interpreted by such people pessimistically.

This emotional disorder leaves its mark on the personality of a person. Such people are grumpy, picky, constantly grumbling. Nothing pleases them, they are always gloomy, dissatisfied, with an extinct look and an expression of boredom on their faces. With all their appearance, they want to show others how bad they are, how sick they are, how unfair fate treated them. Over time, even the closest friends and relatives, who at first sympathized with them, try to stay away from them.

In most cases, people suffering from this disorder do not consider themselves sick (and even more so mentally). They are sure that even if they have signs of illness, it is all short-term. Characterological dysthymia is one of the manifestations.

Treatment

Drugs and psychotherapy are used to treat dysthymia.

The main group of drugs used for the medical treatment of dysthymia are antidepressants.

With somatized dysthymia, traditional antidepressants (anafranil, fluoxetine, velaxin) are used. Dual-acting antidepressants are also prescribed - contributing to the normalization of mood and affecting somatovegetative symptoms (pyrazidol, lerivon, coaxil, moclobemide). What kind of drug, and in what dose it should be taken - this is determined by the doctor individually.

For the treatment of characterological depressions, low doses of antidepressants are usually combined with antipsychotics that have a corrective effect on behavior (neuleptilom). Sometimes prolonged (long-acting) antipsychotics are used - fluanxol-depot, haloperidol decanoate.

You need to immediately tune in to a long-term medical treatment of an emotional disorder - after all, you need not only to eliminate the existing symptoms, but also to consolidate the result, to support it. This may take up to six months.

Psychotherapy is of secondary importance. Its main task is to help form an adequate internal picture of the disease, a critical attitude towards one's condition.

This pathology belongs to the category of diseases that respond well to treatment. Therefore, the sooner you seek medical help, start treatment, the less impact the disease will have on a person, on his position in the family and society.

Dysthymia is a mild mental disorder characterized by episodes of gloomy, depressed mood. This is the so-called subdepression, which, in terms of the severity of symptoms, does not reach the level of major depressive disorder. People with dysthymia are characterized by pessimism, a tendency to gloomy thoughts, a skeptical attitude towards positive emotions that others show.

Dysthymia usually develops in people with a constitutionally depressive personality type. As a rule, the disorder begins at a young age. The reasons for the development of dysthymia at a later age can be obvious stressful situations.

In the treatment of this disorder of the mental sphere, antidepressants, interpersonal, cognitive-behavioral and family psychotherapy are used.

Causes of dysthymia

Signs of subdepression arise due to changes in the human psyche. This condition usually develops in those who suffer from seasonal depressive disorders. Such people are characterized by depression and frequent mood swings. Their body does not produce enough serotonin (the “happiness” hormone), which helps a person in overcoming stressful situations. With its deficiency, it is difficult for a person to cope with life's difficulties. As a result, a condition such as dysthymia occurs.

Researchers also note the role of a hereditary factor in the development of subdepression. Those people whose relatives had this mental disorder suffer from the manifestations of symptoms of dysthymia. If a person has a predisposition to this disorder, then if provoking factors occur, dysthymia may well develop.

When identifying the causes leading to the development of this mental disorder, much attention is paid to how the patient's childhood passed. After all, subdepression could have arisen due to the suppression of the child by parents, violence suffered in childhood, lack of attention from parents. The result of all this is a tendency to pessimism, a decrease in self-esteem, the disappearance of positive emotions, constant worries.

Symptoms of dysthymia

Most often, the symptoms of dysthymia develop in women.

They are manifested by a state of depression, a sharp change in mood, pessimism and apathy towards the events taking place around and close people. Such people are somewhat detached from the outside world, they are always in a state of hard-to-explain anguish, moral emptiness. Their sleep is disturbed - it may be restless, with too early awakenings, or it may be insomnia. Such a person is constantly in a depressed state of mind, he feels fear, his own uselessness, hopelessness, it seems to him that he, as a person, has not taken place. Over time, a patient with dysthymia develops inferiority complexes, guilt for no particular reason. The dysthymic personality is slow, both physically and mentally.

A person in a state of chronic subdepression constantly feels tired, lacks energy to perform the simplest actions. In such a state, it is difficult to concentrate on one particular matter or thinking about an important problem, it is difficult for the patient to make any decision on his own. With dysthymia, there may be a lack of appetite, or, conversely, its increase. The result of this is digestive problems, joints and muscles can hurt, and headaches are often observed. With a long course of a mental disorder, there may be a violation of the stool, lacrimation, shortness of breath. In a state of chronic subdepression, the patient may be visited by thoughts of illness, death.

Symptoms of dysthymia also include: social isolation, decreased talkativeness, secondary deprivation.

In order to make a diagnosis of dysthymia, it is necessary that a depressed mood be present in a person for most of the day for more than six months and at least two years.

As for childhood, the criterion for the presence of dysthymia is the duration of the manifestation of its symptoms for at least one year.

At the same time, at least two of the following symptoms must be observed during periods of low mood:

Insomnia or hypersomnia;
Feelings of hopelessness;
overeating or poor appetite;
Fatigue or loss of energy;
Violation of concentration, difficulty making decisions;
Low level of self-esteem.

They say about dysthymia if:

For two years (one year in children) of the disorder, these symptoms were absent for no more than two months in a row;
During the first two years (one year in children) there was no major depressive episode;
The patient has never had a manic, hypomanic, or mixed episode before;
The disorder is not associated with schizophrenia or delusional disorder;
Symptoms are not due to the action of exogenous substances or a general disease;
Symptoms lead to the development of clinically significant discomfort or disruption of human life in various areas of life (social, professional).

Treatment of dysthymia

Before starting treatment for dysthymia, an accurate diagnosis must be made. In this case, the doctor must make sure that the symptoms of the disorder are not the result of taking medications or a specific disease, for example, drug addiction, alcoholism, hypothyroidism.

The treatment of this mental disorder is a rather complicated and lengthy process, but with a competent approach, it can be treated. Treatment of dysthymia involves the use of drug therapy and psychotherapy.

The goal of psychotherapy is to teach the patient how to effectively overcome daily negative feelings and bad emotions, increase self-esteem, develop self-confidence, and develop interpersonal skills. Typically, a patient with dysthymia is assigned sessions of individual psychotherapy, but it is also possible to attend group trainings for people with a similar disorder.

The basis of drug therapy is taking antidepressants for at least 6 months. Usually, tricyclic antidepressants are prescribed for dysthymia: amitriptyline, imipramine, clomipramine. Recently, the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors has also become widespread.

In addition, enotherapy, amytal-caffeine disinhibition, nootropic therapy, nitrous oxide sessions, intravenous administration of novocaine are used in the treatment of dysthymia.

Dysthymia is a rather stable mental health disorder that makes a person's life difficult and joyless, which cannot but lead to disturbances in the functioning of internal organs and body systems. Therefore, it is so important to prevent the development of dysthymia in childhood, increasing the level of self-esteem and self-esteem of the child, developing his skills to overcome stressful situations.

In recent years, the number of people suffering from various mental illnesses has been steadily increasing. Many of them are accompanied by depressive manifestations, weakness and decreased mood. These diseases are of varying severity. Dysthymia is a small one. The sections of this article describe this disease in detail.

General information

Dysthymia is a mental disorder that has a chronic course and is manifested by such signs as a depressed emotional state without the presence of severe behavioral disorders and somatic pathologies. This is a mild form of depression.

With this pathology, patients feel sadness, unwillingness to engage in daily activities, do not feel pleasure, and are often angry and gloomy. However, due to the absence, people with dysthymia can work and function relatively normally in society. Dysthymia is determined by specialists on such grounds as low mood and apathy, which have been present in the patient for two years. Psychiatrists also pay attention to the presence of insomnia, appetite disorders, increased fatigue, a feeling of weakness and a decrease in concentration. Such phenomena allow the doctor to diagnose dysthymia. This means that when a disease is detected, it is necessary to choose the right tactics of therapy. With this pathology, treatment should be comprehensive. It is desirable to apply an individual approach to each patient, depending on the conditions in which he lives.

Factors that provoke the disease

Pathology occurs as a result of various causes - both external and internal. The main factors that trigger the mechanisms of the development of the disease include the following:

So, dysthymia is a mental disorder that occurs under the influence of various factors. Therefore, each case must be considered on an individual basis.

Who is most at risk of getting sick?

Most often, this mental disorder begins to manifest itself in youth, sometimes it occurs in minors. However, there are such types of disease (for example, endoreactive dysthymia) that are observed in the elderly. As a rule, pathology manifests itself within two years and even for a longer time. A depressed emotional state is observed in patients for 2-3 months or more, and periods of improvement are short-lived. The younger the patient, the more pronounced his symptoms. Most patients with dysthymia suffer from other types of mental or manic-depressive disorder, panic attacks, phobia, addiction to alcohol or drugs. However, in general, pronounced disorders of social adaptation are not typical for patients.

Dysthymia: symptoms of pathology

This disease is characterized by the following manifestations:

These are common signs of this mental disorder. However, dysthymia is a disease that is divided into several types.

Forms of pathology

There is primary and secondary dysthymia. The first type arises on its own. The second appears in connection with other mental disorders. The cause of dysthymia can be diseases of any organs and systems, as well as stressful situations. According to the signs that appear against the background of the disease, dysthymia is divided into somatized and characterological. These types of pathology are discussed in detail in the following sections of the article.

Somatized dysthymia

This type of disease is characterized by the fact that a person constantly notices signs of pathologies of various organs. For example, he may complain of pain in the heart, stomach and intestines. There may be an acceleration of heart rate, constipation, respiratory disorders, sensitive and restless sleep. A person begins to fear for his health. There may be fears about the appearance of serious diseases. Many patients diagnosed with "somatized dysthymia" experience fear of oncological pathologies, the development of heart attacks, strokes, and so on. They constantly listen to their body, worry and despair about their own health. This type of pathology resembles hypochondria.

Characterological dysthymia

This form of mental disorder is characterized by the constant presence of a pessimistic mood. Patients do not get satisfaction from everyday events, they yearn all the time.

Previously, these characteristics were considered personal manifestations. Today, mental health professionals are unsure of the correctness of this view. Psychiatrists believe that constant pessimism indicates the presence of dysthymia. It should be added that, in addition to depression, the condition of such patients is characterized by periodic statements about the hopelessness of life, their own uselessness. Patients look lethargic, sad, apathetic, they take even minor troubles to heart. Such people grumble all the time, they are dissatisfied with their surroundings, they are not critical of their own condition, they tend to blame others for all troubles. Because of this behavior, even relatives and friends who previously empathized with the sick begin to shun them over time.

Dysthymia in a child

Sometimes the causes that trigger the mechanism of the disease appear in childhood. Where a child is raised matters a lot. If the relationship between the parents is hostile, they constantly quarrel - this can provoke development. When a son or daughter is blamed, they are forced to hide him. As a result, the child becomes lethargic, unlearning to enjoy the things that made him happy before. What disorders are typical for dysthymia in childhood? How to recognize the disease? First of all, a wake-up call for parents should be that the child constantly looks sad.

Suspiciously, if he seems tired all the time, his social circle has narrowed, there are no manifestations of joy from gifts and delicacies that previously caused pleasant emotions.

Diagnosis of dysthymia and treatment of pathology

In order to prescribe adequate therapy, the doctor must accurately determine which disease is present in the patient. The difficulty in diagnosing dysthymia lies in the fact that its signs are similar to those of other mental disorders, and patients are often uncritical about their condition. They often refuse to seek medical help, believing that the unpleasant symptoms will soon pass. For those who still decide to consult a doctor about their condition, a psychiatrist conducts a special diagnosis. It is based on the following criteria:

Questioning the patient and talking with him.
Identification of the totality of signs of dysthymia present in the patient.
The presence of characteristic pathological phenomena for two or more years.
Signs of dysthymia in the absence of symptoms of other mental disorders.

In order to identify this disease, doctors also conduct testing. When making a diagnosis, the psychiatrist pays attention to such manifestations as:

The presence of most of the above signs gives grounds for the diagnosis of "dysthymia". Treatment of the disease, as a rule, does not involve placing the patient in a hospital. The exception is situations when the symptoms of pathology prevent a person from living a normal life.

How to treat dysthymia?

To combat the symptoms of pathology, doctors recommend drug therapy. As a rule, the patient is prescribed antidepressants that increase the production of serotonin. Most drugs that are used today do not cause serious side effects. In order to achieve tangible results, medications must be taken for about six months. To combat increased excitability and insomnia, sedatives are recommended. An important role in the treatment of dysthymia is played by a visit to a psychotherapist. These can be individual, group or family sessions. Psychotherapeutic techniques allow the patient to better adapt to society, solve problems in relationships with others, and cope with stress.

Pathology warning

Unfortunately, the answer to the question of whether dysthymia is completely treated is negative. Therapy is usually long, and recovery is rarely one hundred percent. The disease provokes many difficulties in work and in personal life. Patients are often prone to suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts. Is it possible to prevent the occurrence of such a mental disorder? The answer to this question is yes, provided that the person follows the following recommendations:

Compliance with such preventive measures will allow a person to protect himself from the occurrence of such mental disorders as dysthymia.

Dysthymia is a chronic subdepression (minor depressive disorder), the symptoms of which are insufficient for a diagnosis of major depressive disorder. It may seem to you that you are meeting with such a definition for the first time, but this is not entirely true. Surely you have heard such terms as neurasthenia, psychasthenia and neurotic depression before, and they, in turn, are outdated names for dysthymic disorder.

The diagnosis of "dysthymia" can only be established in the case of a disorder that has not stopped for two years.

Now let's try to look at dysthymia from an ordinary point of view. A person whose hallmarks over the years have been a high level of introversion and neuroticism, a dreary-malicious bad mood, associated with incessant gloominess and low self-esteem, is an example of a dysthymic disorder.

Unfortunately, the exact causes of dysthymia have not yet been established. Although it can be confidently asserted that the disease is characterized by a hereditary predisposition and is observed in more than five percent of the world's population, and dysthymia does not spare women more often than men. Experts include discrete (intermittent) depressive episodes, the loss of loved ones, prolonged exposure to a stressful situation, and dysthymia is considered as a character trait to the alleged causes of dysthymia.

Usually dysthymia is formed in patients at the age of twenty, but earlier cases of the disease are also noted: in adolescence. Then, in addition to a gloomy mood and low self-esteem, patients also have a high level of irritability, intolerance towards people around them (such features persist for at least one year).

Causes of the disease and features of symptoms

Signs of dysthymia are very similar to those of depression, but are much less pronounced. Patients have a pessimistic view of the future and a negative assessment of their past experience. Often they feel like failures, experience a breakdown, they are haunted by longing and thoughts about the futility of life. Some patients may also experience physiological symptoms of the disease: sleep disturbances, tearfulness, general malaise, stool disorders, shortness of breath.

The main symptom of dysthymia is a low, sad, morose, depressed, anxious, or gloomy mood that lasts for at least two years. The patient does not even episodically observe periods of high spirits and joyful mood. “Good” days, according to patients, are extremely rare and do not depend on external circumstances. Other symptoms of dysthymia include:

Low self-esteem, lack of confidence in yourself and in the future.
The predominance of feelings of fatigue and lethargy.
Lack of satisfaction from the work done and from the successful, joyful aspects of life.
Pessimistic conclusions about negative or unfortunate aspects of life.
The dominance of a sense of hopelessness over all other feelings and emotions.
Feeling of lack of mobilizing prospects.
Tendency to lose heart quickly when faced with difficulties.
Sleep disorders: insomnia or excessive sleepiness, nightmarish and depressing dreams.
Appetite disorders: overeating or lack of need to eat.
Anticipation of encountering difficulties in upcoming activities.
Violation of concentration.
Difficulties in making decisions.
Decreased initiative, enterprise and resourcefulness.

However, in general, the picture of the disease is not so pronounced that a diagnosis of "depressive disorder" can be made. Therefore, a patient with dysthymia is often diagnosed and begins treatment many years after the onset of the disease.

Initially, it may seem that the symptoms of dysthymia are not much different from the signs of ordinary depression. But it's not. Yes, a person suffering from dysthymic disorder is more introverted than healthy people, but he is still not subject to bouts of isolation, he does not have a desire for complete solitude from society.

Dysthymia (minor depression), as a rule, is much easier to tolerate clinical (major depression), but because of the symptoms inherent in dysthymic disorder, it is difficult for patients to perform household and professional duties. This disease, like clinical depression, increases the risk of suicide.

Usually the disease develops in people of a certain type - the so-called constitutional-depressive type. The very physiology of their nervous system, the features of its structure and work, cause an increased likelihood of dysthymia. At the level of brain biochemistry, this is expressed in a violation of the production of serotonin (a hormone that is responsible for a positive, good mood) in the human brain. Therefore, even minor stress factors in his life can trigger the development of the disease.

Most often, dysthymia begins to develop at a young age, although there are cases of later development of the disease. In the event that the disease develops from childhood, the person simply considers himself "depressed", considers the signs of the disease as integral features of his own character and does not go to the doctor at all.

Unfortunately, there are no special medical examinations to detect this disease - there are no special laboratory tests that would help determine it.

How is the treatment

Despite the fact that dysthymia is a rather serious, chronic disease, it is still curable. The prognosis for complete recovery depends on the timely diagnosis and a set of therapeutic measures.

Comprehensive treatment involves a combination of psychotherapy sessions with drug therapy.

Psychotherapy helps the patient to better understand himself and the causes of his mood. The patient learns to cope with his feelings and emotions, to deal with a mood disorder. Treatment includes both individual psychotherapy and group therapy (for some patients, it is more effective to have such a “support group” that includes people with a similar disease and overcome their problems with them).

Family psychotherapy also plays a special role, it will help form a kind of “friendly rear” for the patient at home: family members begin to realize the causes of the patient’s mood and behavior (it is important for them to understand that these processes are caused by the biochemical processes of the brain), learn to help him in the fight against illness.

Antidepressants are commonly used as medical treatment. There are many of them, and the doctor will select the drug based on the characteristics of the course of the disease individually. At initial diagnosis, treatment with antidepressants usually lasts about 6 months. Remember that there is a so-called "antidepressant withdrawal syndrome" when you stop taking these drugs, so you must notify your doctor in advance if you want to stop taking antidepressants. He will advise how to go through this period as gently and smoothly as possible, gradually reducing doses in order to avoid negative withdrawal symptoms.

Most often, antidepressants of the SSRI group (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are used - for example, Paxil, Luvox, Prozac and others. Dual-acting antidepressants that act on the reuptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine (eg, cymbalta or effexor) may also be used.

If you also have manic symptoms with dysthymia, your doctor may also prescribe mood stabilizers (such as lithium) or anti-seizure medications. If the disease is seasonal, phototherapy may also be effective.

It is also important to remember that since nature has endowed you with a particularly vulnerable nervous system, you must constantly keep it in balance and lead a healthy lifestyle. It is necessary to exclude alcohol and cigarettes, and be sure to dose both physical and mental stress. Be sure to get enough sleep (for insomnia - consult your doctor), this is an indispensable condition for the successful functioning of the nervous system. You can periodically drink special vitamin complexes (preferably those that are specially designed to combat depression). In the autumn-winter period, do not save on electricity, let the body get enough light. Go outside more often, take a walk.

As mentioned above, if you feel that over time the course of the disease, its symptoms worsen, you need to seek help from specialists. Do not write off the deterioration of your condition on the vicissitudes of fate and other factors. In the absence of proper treatment against the background of dysthymia, an episode of clinical depression may develop, which, in turn, will lead to more serious consequences. Take care of your health and take care of yourself.

Causes of pathology

A complex chronic disease affects more and more people every year. Psychologists are not able to determine the exact cause of the development of dysthymic disorder, but there are several main factors that influence the development of the disease:

hereditary predisposition. The causes of subdepression lie in the human psyche. The disease often develops in people whose relatives suffered from disorders in the nervous system or had abnormalities in the brain. Genetic factors increase the risk of developing pathology by 3 times.
Psychological problems come from childhood. Dysthymia often occurs due to lack of attention or excessive pressure from parents, facts of sexual violence, frequent conflicts, upbringing in an incomplete family, misunderstanding on the part of peers.
Individual character traits. At risk are suspicious people who are prone to pessimism, frequent experiences. They are not able to make decisions quickly and realize themselves in professions that do not require constant communication.
Biological causes. Associated with a decrease in the concentration of neurotransmitters in the human body. The pathological condition occurs as a result of diseases of the thyroid gland, ovaries, adrenal glands.
The environment of the person and the lack of emotional support from loved ones.
Taking certain medications, drug addiction, alcoholism.
Inadequate nutrition, violation of the rest regimen, lack of vitamins.
Physical and nervous exhaustion.
Chronic physiological diseases.
environmental reasons. There is an indirect relationship between the incidence rate and environmental conditions.

In most cases, the psychological disorder begins before the age of 30. In adulthood, dysthymia is associated with the loss of a loved one or other obvious stressful situations.

Clinical picture

The typical manifestations of the disease include low self-esteem and bad mood. This pathology is characterized by the preservation of a normal level of functioning in society, the family. At the same time, patients have slight difficulties in performing household and professional duties. Mental disorder increases the risk of suicide.

Psychologists distinguish 3 possible variants of the course of dysthymia:

no major depressive episode;
with a single major depressive episode;
with recurring major depressive episodes.

In 75% of all diagnosed cases, the disease is accompanied by other mental disorders. These are social phobia, drug addiction, panic disorders, anxiety states. The clinical picture of dysthymia is not so pronounced that a depressive disorder was diagnosed. In this regard, the treatment of dysthymia begins several years after the onset of the disease.

Forms of pathology

Mental disorder is divided by experts into 2 main types: somatized and characterological.

In the first case, the patient complains of pain in the heart or gastrointestinal tract, feeling unwell. With this type of disorder, the likelihood of developing autonomic disorders is high. This is trembling in the limbs, increased blood pressure, palpitations.
The characterological type of dysthymia is directly related to a depressive outlook on life. The patient becomes more irritable, suspicious, pessimistic. Such people do not know how to enjoy life. With all their appearance, they want to show others how bad they are.

In most cases, a person with mental disorders does not recognize himself as sick, and considers all the signs of pathology to be a short-term phenomenon. At the same time, he tries with all his might to avoid attempts to seek medical help.

Symptoms

The manifestations of dysthymia have many similarities with depression, but differ in a lower degree of severity.

You can suspect the presence of a mental illness by the following characteristic signs:

passive attitude to ongoing events, a constant feeling of fatigue;
Bad mood;
inadequate responses to environmental stimuli;
a change in appetite, which is manifested by its absence or overeating, which as a result can lead to anorexia, bulimia;
replacement of positive emotions with negative ones, frequent causeless longing;
fear of the future;
difficulty in making decisions, excessive caution and indecision;
low self-esteem, feeling of complete worthlessness, self-criticism, unreasonable guilt;
periods of complete absence of thoughts;
chronic insomnia;
physical lethargy, headaches, problems with the digestive system, dysfunction of the joints;
problems with concentration;
loss of interest in sex life, other ways of getting pleasure;
a sharply negative assessment of the past, combined with pessimistic thoughts about the future.

Rarely, the disease is accompanied by shortness of breath, impaired stool, and increased lacrimation. In a state of chronic subdepression, a person may be visited by thoughts of illness, death, the meaninglessness of being. Under the influence of the above symptoms, a person changes his usual way of life.

Many patients refuse to attend mass events, break off relations with their other half, change jobs. In some cases, the help of a psychiatrist can save a person's life. The reason for an urgent visit to a doctor is self-mutilation, unwillingness to leave the house, distribution of personal belongings. These manifestations may signal possible suicide attempts.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis of dysthymia should be made exclusively in the office of a psychiatrist. In cases where the pathological condition extremely negatively affects the quality of life of the patient, hospitalization may be required.

The specialist confirms the presence of the disease under the following conditions:

symptoms of dysthymia have been present for the past two years and have not disappeared for more than two months;
the causes of the disease are not associated with schizophrenia, delusional disorder, drugs or medications;
the absence of violations of human activity in various spheres of life.

At the moment, there are no special medical examinations or laboratory tests to detect this chronic disease. In the presence of any symptoms of psychological abnormalities, consultation with a specialist is required. In childhood, dysthymia can only be detected in the case of close contact between parents and the child. Alertness in adults causes a complete absence of friends, a constant depressed state, an apathetic reaction to sweets.

At the moment, new methods for diagnosing the disease, performed in the form of testing, have been developed. With their help, the patient is able to independently and objectively assess the existing symptoms, consult a doctor in a timely manner. On average, each test consists of 18 questions and a rating scale. For each positive answer, 1 point is awarded. If you receive 15 points or more, you can talk about the presence of a mental disorder that requires correction.

Treatment

Any type of depressive disorder is treatable, including dysthymia. As in most cases, the treatment is complex and involves taking medications and attending psychotherapeutic sessions.

Medical treatment

The basis of the therapy is properly selected medications. In the presence of thinking disorders, suicidal thoughts, motor retardation or weakness, specialists prescribe drug treatment, including the use of drugs of the following two groups.

Antidepressants. The choice of the drug is individual and depends on the characteristics of the course of the disease. Modern antidepressants are well tolerated by the body and do not eventually cause addiction. Often, Fluoxetine, Parnat, Zoloft, Simbalta are used for treatment. The average course of treatment is about 6 months.
Tranquilizers. The action of drugs in this group is aimed at reducing the excitability of the nervous system. Reception of tranquilizers is strictly controlled by a doctor. This is due to the high likelihood of developing addiction. Popular drugs include Lorafen, Elenium, Seduxen.

If after taking medication the condition worsens, and the symptoms only intensify, you should immediately inform your doctor about this. The disease responds well to therapy. The sooner a person seeks help, the less impact will be exerted on the body.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy plays a special role in the treatment process, aimed at forming a critical attitude towards one's condition, as well as identifying the causes of the disease. In individual or group meetings, the patient will learn to cope with their emotions.

In the treatment of dysthymia, other auxiliary methods can be used. For example, amytal-caffeine disinhibition, nitrous oxide sessions, enotherapy, intravenous administration of novocaine. When identifying the relationship between the manifestations of the disease and the season of the year, it is permissible to carry out phototherapy. Without fail, patients will have to give up bad habits, stick to a diet, exercise and try to make new acquaintances.

For the successful functioning of the entire nervous system, proper sleep is necessary. If the doctor's recommendations are followed, the prognosis will be favorable.

As preventive measures, the following recommendations of specialists should be observed:

arrange a full weekend;
try to communicate with successful people;
find an interesting activity;
perform breathing exercises several times a day;
do not keep negative emotions and resentments in yourself, smile more;
include in the daily diet foods high in vitamins A, B, C, PP;
never be equal to others, it should be remembered that each person is individual.