On this day, depression is part of a person’s lifestyle. Conditions that cannot be avoided by everyone, every day. Depression is a disorder that can be likened to influenza disease, a disease that is common and often attacks humans.
Depression greatly affects the country’s economy and the progress of a nation. A country can arise from war / recession due to good depression management.
Dysthymic Disorder Definition
Dysthymia or also called persistent depressive disorder is a form of long-term chronic depression. People who experience dysthymia may lose interest in going about their daily activities, feeling discouraged, less productive, and inferior.
Dysthymia is a chronic depressive mood at most of the time and persists for at least 2 years. In dysthymia, the depressive symptoms are not very severe but often the depressive form lasts forever. Dysthymia generally begins in childhood / adolescence, or in parents after the age of 52.
Dysthymia that occurs before the age of 21 is called early onset dysthymia. Dysthymia that occurs after the age of 21 is called late onset dysthymia.
Early onset dysthymia is associated with comorbid personality disorders, while dysthymia after the age of more than 50 years is associated with health problems and loss of family members.
Dysthymia rarely begins to occur in old age. It usually begins to rise from childhood even though it becomes real and is diagnosed with dysthymia after adulthood.
Or in other words, dysthymia in older persons due to the continuation of dysthymia that has been going on since childhood or adolescence, often derived from early onset dysthymia even sometimes occurs from the age of 5 years.
People with persistent depression or dysthymia find it difficult to feel happy, even in happier times. Sufferers are portrayed as having a bleak personality, constantly complaining and unable to have fun.
Although dysthymia is usually not as severe as major depression, but the feelings of depression experienced by people with dysthymia can last for many years and can significantly cause problems in the person’s relationship, school, work and daily activities.
Dysthymic Disorder Symptoms
Symptoms of dysthymia can last a minimum of two years with the following forms:
- Constant feelings of sadness and despair
- Sleep disorders
- Low energy
- Changes in appetite
- Difficulty concentrating
- Lack of interest in daily activities
- Decrease in productivity
- Poor self-esteem
- Negative attitude
- Avoid social activities.
Symptoms of dysthymia often begin to appear during childhood or adolescence. Children and adolescents with dysthymia usually seem irritable, moody, or pessimistic for a long time.
They can also show behavioral problems, poor performance in school, and difficulty interacting with other children in social situations.
The symptoms often come and go for several years, and their severity may vary over time.
Dysthymic Disorder Causes
The results of a study in the journal The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), published by the American Psychiatric Association in 2013, suggest that, until now, it has not been known exactly what caused this dysthymic disorder. However, it is possible that this is related to genetic factors, but in some patients with Dysthymia, there is no family track record with similar problems.
In addition, the possibility of abnormal function in the brain can also be the root cause of dysthymic disorder. This is based on the condition of dysthymic disorder sufferers who have never experienced hypomanic or manic episodes that can cause feelings of spirit in a human being. Past adverse events that a person has experienced, physical illnesses, as well as side effects of drug use can also trigger this chronic depression.
But as with severe depression, the condition may involve more than one cause, including:
#1. Biological Differences
People with dysthymia may experience physical changes in their brain. The significance of this change is still uncertain, but this condition could help to determine the cause of this mental health problem.
#2. Brain Chemicals
Neurotransmitters are chemicals in the brain that appear natural and likely play a role in depression. A study shows that, changes in the function and effects of neurotransmitters as well as how they interact with neural circuits are involved in maintaining mood stability. This condition can play an important role in the treatment of depression.
#3. Heredity
This mental illness seems to be more common in someone who has a brother with a previous history of mental problems. The researchers found that genes may be involved in causing this condition.
#4. Traumatic
As with severe depression, traumatic events such as the loss of a loved one, financial problems or high levels of stress can trigger a person to experience this.
#5. Personality Condition
This condition is a condition that can also be caused because a person has a pessimistic personality, always relies on others, or considers low self-esteem.
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