User:Mr. Ibrahem/Persistent depressive disorder

Persistent depressive disorder (PDD), previously known as dysthymia and chronic major depression, is a prolonged depressed mood. Other symptoms may include a change in eating or sleeping, low energy, poor self esteem, and trouble concentrating. These symptoms are to a degree that significant distress or impairment occurs. Episodes of major depressive disorder or suicide may occur.

Risk factors include loss of a parent at a young age and family history. Diagnosis is based on symptoms after ruling out other possible causes. Symptoms must be present for at least two years in adults or one year in children for a diagnosis. In the DSM-5, dysthymia and chronic major depression were combined to form persistent depressive disorder.

Treatment is similar to major depressive disorder with the use of counselling and medications such as SSRIs. About 1 to 6% of the population are affected at some point in time. In 2015 about 104 million people were affected globally. Onset is generally in childhood or early adulthood. The term "dysthymia" came into use in the field of psychiatry in 1844 by Fleming. It was first introduced in the DSM-II as a personality disorder and was later conceptualized as a disease state in the DSM-III.