What is the cause of dysthymia?

Dysthymia, like depression, is thought to be caused by a combination of biochemical, genetic and environmental factors.

It seems that certain life events can trigger dysthymia in susceptible people. Such events include:

     
  • adolescent adjustment problems  
  • life transitions such as moving, or starting a new school or job  
  • losses and life crises such as death and divorce  
  • chronic societal problems such as poverty and unemployment  
  • stress arising from having to cope with illness or abuse

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Revision date: July 7, 2011
Last revised: by Tatiana Kuznetsova, D.M.D.