Can dysthymia lead to major depression?
Key points
- Although up to 50% of people with dysthymia start symptoms before the age of 25, many go years without treatment as they see their condition as part of life.
- This serious condition is characterised by interference in normal daily functioning, marked changes in sleeping patterns and appetite; intense feelings of sadness, shame and despair; and thoughts of death and suicide.
- The greatest risk for dysthymia, however, is that it can lead to full-blown depression.
- About 40% of dysthymia sufferers eventually have a major depressive episode, although some studies have reported a lifetime risk of as high as 77% for this group of sufferers.
Although up to 50% of people with dysthymia start symptoms before the age of 25, many go years without treatment as they see their condition as part of life. The greatest risk for dysthymia, however, is that it can lead to full-blown depression. About 40% of dysthymia sufferers eventually have a major depressive episode, although some studies have reported a lifetime risk of as high as 77% for this group of sufferers.
This serious condition is characterised by interference in normal daily functioning, marked changes in sleeping patterns and appetite; intense feelings of sadness, shame and despair; and thoughts of death and suicide. Up to 40% of persons with major depression also suffer from dysthymia, this is referred to as double depression.
Written and revised by
Gerald Hurowitz, M.D.
Our doctors write and review articles for accuracy and keep them up to date.
health.am provides general information, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional about your own health.
Explore health topics
More in this topic
Mental Health →
NewsDeep Brain Stimulation May Offer Hope for Select Patients with Treatment Resistant Major Depression
Researchers from the Cleveland Clinic, Brown University, and Massachusetts General Hospital will present results of a long-term outcome study that builds on previous promising research, which has shown that deep brain…
29 April 2008
NewsStudy finds 1 in 5 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans suffer from PTSD or major depression
Nearly 20 percent of military service members who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan - 300,000 in all - report symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder or major depression, yet only slight more than half have…
18 April 2008
NewsBrain atrophy in elderly leads to unintended racism, depression and problem gambling
As we age, our brains slowly shrink in volume and weight. This includes significant atrophy within the frontal lobes, the seat of executive functioning. Executive functions include planning, controlling, and inhibiting…
