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Dysthymia –  meaning “bad state of mind” or “ill humor” in Greek – is a mood disorder in which a chronically depressed mood is present on the majority of days for at least two years. Patients often regard the low mood they live with as normal, and many individuals may not realize that anything is wrong at all. Although dysthymia causes significant distress or some impairment in function of school or work performance, socially or otherwise, it is not as severe as the impairment caused by major depression.

The onset of dysthymia is usually gradual. The median age of onset is 31 years, though it may begin much earlier or later. Most patients cannot pinpoint precisely when they first became depressed. In children and adolescents, the altered mood may be irritable instead of depressed, and must last at least one year instead of two.

There is a close relationship between dysthymia and major depression. For instance, many patients with dysthymia will eventually develop major depression, and patients with major depression may eventually develop dysthymia. If an episode of major depression occurs during dysthymia, both dysthymia and major depression may be diagnosed, resulting in what is referred to as double depression. Dysthymia may also be associated with other mental health disorders (e.g., anxiety disorders, substance abuse). Dysthymia in children may be associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other medical or psychological conditions.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about 3.3 million adult Americans ages 18 and older suffer from dysthymia at some point in their lives. Women are about twice as likely to have dysthymia as men.