What is the difference between Major Depressive Disorder and Dysthymic Disorder?

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I'm doing a project on depression and i cant find anything on the difference between Major Depressive Disorder and Dysthymic Disorder. Help!
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What's the difference between clinical depression and dysthymic disorder?

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I know clinical depression is more serious, but lasts shorter, while Dysthymic disorder [or dysthymia] is chronic and less severe. But, is there another difference in between them? Like, what types of things would cause dysthymia and clinical depression? Is it a chemical imbalance or something like that? Or does it just develop? I just want to understand what I have to deal with better. =/
Life changing events can cause either. Often in a life changing event it takes six months to settle into the change. If not an adjustment disorder occurs which can lead to clinical depression.

Depression is not a simple topic as it can be organic, or caused by life stressors. (Reactive).

Dysthemia is just a general feeling of being down, whereas depression is acute and has sometimes debilitating symptoms.

Both can be organic (chemical) both can be due to life events.  (+ info)

Are there more boys or girls diagnosed with Dysthymic Disorder?

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I've read in many places that Dysthymic Disorder seems to occur equally in both sexes in children. However, I've also come across a few articles stating that some studies suggest that the disorder occurs more frequently in adolescent boys than girls.

Does anybody have any knowledge on this matter? I'd greatly appreciate your input. Thanks.
Considerably more females are depressed than males, and there is a grey area between mild/moderate depression, and dysthymia, (depending on the length of time) but there are people who cycle between the two. Google: "dysthymia; gender distribution"  (+ info)

Can someone please explain Dysthymia or Dysthymic Disorder?

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My husband was recently diagnosed with Dysthymic Disorder. What can I expect from here? What are the symptoms, etc? Thank you!
Dysthymia is a mood disorder that falls within the depression spectrum. It is typically characterized by a lack of enjoyment or pleasure, clinically referred to as anhedonia, that continues for an extended period. Dysthymia differs from major depression in that the former is both longer-lasting and less disabling. Dysthymia can prevent a person from functioning effectively, disrupt sleep patterns, and interfere with activities of daily living (ADLs).  (+ info)

Can someone please tell me what Dysthymic Disorder Means, and what Dependent Personality Means?

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Looking for website on Dysthymia and Dependent Personality Disorder. Also, do most people have both good and bad days at work?
Dysthymic Disorder is a chronic condition characterized by depressive symptoms that occur for most of the day, more days than not, for at least 2 years.

Dependent Personality Disorder is a condition characterized by an over-reliance on others that leads to submissive and clinging behavior and fears of separation. The dependent and submissive behaviors arise from feeling unable to cope without the help of others.  (+ info)

What's the difference between Dysthymic Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder?

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Think of them as the difference between a flu and a cold. Major depression, is more severe but doesn't last as long whereas a dysthymia is milder but chronic.

Here are the symptoms of depression:
Depression

MILD
Lack of motivation
Low self esteem
Feeling tired
Isolating self - not seeing friends or family
Sleeping too much
Feeling sad or blue most days
Thoughts of wanting to die from illness

MODERATE
Losing sleep
Losing appetite
Losing hope
Thoughts of suicide with no intent
Feeling helpless, trapped
Having problems concentrating and/or making decisions

SEVERE
Feel hopeless and helpless
Thoughts of suicide become obsessive
Can be self destructive or self defeating
Thoughts of suicide with intent

People with dysthymia will stay in the mild range all of their lives if left untreated. It can be managed without medication however with proper diet and exercise. People with major depression go into the moderate and severe categories and usually need medication to deal with their suicidal thoughts.

There are other types of depression as well such as bipolar, situational type depression, and grief.  (+ info)

Can somebody tell me what they know about Dysthymic Disorder?

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especially any doctors out there...i would love for you to answer. all i know so far is that is a disorder about depression, and in order to be diagnosed with it, you have to have the symptoms for like a year or two.
all info possible would be great!!!!
Depression that seems to last forever. People with Dysthymic Disorder tend to have a very negative outlook, difficulty making decisions and may have a lack of energy.


Not as severe as Major Depression, and the diagnosis isn't used quite as often.

http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3120.htm

I had been diagnosed with Major Depression, I used to think I fit the criteria for Dysthymic Disorder and I never mentioned it to my psychiatrist. Then, guess what, she changed my diagnosis to Dysthymic Disorder after I saw her for a few years.

I took St. John's Wort and it gave me unbelievable stomach aches; I'll never take that stuff again. Maybe it worked for somebody, but not me. I have taken Desipramine, Paxil, Buspar, Seroquel and Cymbalta.

Paxil and Cymbalta both worked well and I'm not even sure if one is better than the other. The side effects haven't bothered me very much.

I read somewhere that some psychiatrists don't think there's really any real difference between Major Depression and Dysthymic Disorder. I can't remember where I read that, though.

I have met people who work in mental health who say they never heard of it. I work in mental health medical records and I can definitely say the diagnosis of Major Depression is a lot more commonly used as a diagnosis among our clients.  (+ info)

How do you go about motivating a depression diagnosed (dysthymic disorder since teen) unmotivated person?

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Go somewhere you want to go, bring them along. Park, hiking, whatever.

If their mood is uplifted, great, but don't do that 'see how much better you feel now' crap, it only reminds them of the depression, makes them depressed again.

I don't think there is anything else you can do. In some cases, it may work better to arrange an outing with someone else, if you represent too much authority or whatever to be someone to have fun with.  (+ info)

Can dysthymic disorder be severe enough to deem someone disabled and unable to work?

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Yes.

Dysthymia is a chronic low-grade depression. It's not as extreme as major depressive disorder, but because it's chronic it lasts longer, meaning that someone could go years only just about functioning. If they have a stressful job, it might be impossible for them to cope with it. Dysthymia has a high suicide rate because it can be so debilitating - the sufferer feels there is no hope because they have so few times of feeling better.  (+ info)

What's the best way to fight dysthymic disorder?

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Lots of excersise, lots of sunlight, laughter, good friends, doing things you enjoy, really, sounds wishy washy, but try it. If it doesn't work go to a doc and tell him your symptoms, or see a therapist. Good Luck  (+ info)

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