Dysthymic disorders in children and teenagers

Dysthymic disorders in children and teenagers have the characteristics of a depressed mood or feeling irritable in most of their day, the symptoms that dominated for days, until at least 1 year. DSM-IV-TR records that mood disorders in children and adolescents, would be found that feelings of irritability that can replace the criteria for adult depression that lasted 2 years, but only 1 year for the duration of dysthymic disorders in children and a teenager.

According to the DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria, there must be at least three of the following symptoms have been found in dysthymic disorders depressed or irritable mood: low self esteem, pessimism or hopelessness, social withdrawal, loss of interest, feelings of guilt about past events, irritability anger, chronic fatigue, reduced activity or productivity, and impaired concentration and memory.

During the period of dysthymic disorders, dysthymic disorders symptoms did not finish more than two months at one time. In addition, the diagnostic criteria for dysthymic disorders specify that during the first year, it must be ensured that no episodes of major depressive disorders appear. To fulfill DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria for dysthymic disorders, a child or teenagers does not have to have experience of manic or hypomanic episodes.

Diagnosis for dysthymic disorders also can not be enforced if the symptoms occur exclusively during the course of a chronic psychotic disorder, or if the symptoms are the direct effects of a substance or general medical condition. DSM-IV-TR specification set for early onset limited to less than 21 years of age or late onset more than 21 years of age.


Dysthymic disorders vs major depressive disorders. Dysthymic disorders in a child or teenagers may have major depressive episodes before they could develop dysthymic disorder, but it is much more common for children and adolescents with dysthymic disorders for over a year to have episodes of major depressive disorders. In this case, both a diagnosis of depression is given (double depression).

In children and teenagers with dysthymic disorders is known to have an average time of onset several years earlier than the time of onset in major depressive disorders. Controversy still exists among clinicians and researchers to whether dysthymic disorders to categorize the best version, the 'dangerous chronic symptoms' of major depressive disordesr or a separate disorder.

Sometimes, young people meet the criteria for dysthymic disorders, except that the last episode they were only 2 weeks to several months, with symptom-free intervals lasting for 2 to 3 months. The atmosphere of this small presentation in children tends to show severe episodes of mood disorders in the future. Current knowledge suggests that the longer, more repetitive, more often and perhaps less related to social stress in this episode, the greater the likelihood of severe mood disorders in the future. When a mild depressive episode following a significant life events with the stress of less than 3 months, often part of the adjustment disorder.