Dysthymia

This is a milder, longer-lasting form of depression than a major depressive episode. Specifically, the DSM-IV states that depressed mood for most of the day, "more than days than not", rather than "most of the day, nearly every day," for at least two years differentiates Dysthymia from Major Depression. It includes at least 2 of the following symptoms:

Again, like in Major Depression, this disorder is not considered Dysthymia if the symptoms are due to medical illness, substance use, or only occur during a Major Depressive Episode or during the course of a psychotic disorder or Bipolar Disorder.

Treatment
As noted above, Depression is considered one of the most treatable mental health problems. Many different modalities are available for treatment of Depression, which gives the person seeking help many opportunities to find the treatment that best fits her or him. Since I've already given a broad overview of the treatments available for Depression, I will focus on my own techniques.

Medication: Depending on the severity of symptoms, family history, and personal history of mental health, I might suggest visiting a psychiatrist for medication. Medication can be helpful in some cases, although it is sometimes used instead of therapy, which can create dependence on the medication to decrease symptoms, rather than treating the underlying cause of depression.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: The most common therapy I use is Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT; see the link on my homepage for a description of CBT). CBT looks at the thinking styles and behaviors that continue to increase depressive symptoms. Generally, I start with Mind Over Mood, by Greenberger and Greenberger.

This workbook helps a person begin to understand what kinds of situations, thoughts, and beliefs contribute to their symptoms. Once we have a good understanding of this, we can begin to change the thoughts to focus on more helpful ways of looking at your life.

Psychodynamic Therapy: Some people are more interested in looking at the patterns in their lives that lead to their symptoms, including past experiences and interactions with other people. In this case, looking at the thoughts associated with symptoms is too simplistic and a deeper exploration is appropriate. This approach includes looking at the meaning of various aspects of your working and personal life and applying this understanding to your current life.