Dysthymia which is also referred to as chronic depression is a type of depression which is less severe compared to clinical depression. Dysthymia symptoms can be observed for a longer period usually exceeding two years. It is evident that people suffering from Dysthymia act and function normally though at times are seen to be sad. The disorder is usually common in women though men can become victims also. In the US it is approximated that 10.9 million of the total population of people who are 18 years and older suffer from chronic depression. It is believed that individuals can suffer from chronic depression at any age but mostly adults are the victims.

It is easy to differentiate the symptoms of chronic depression from other forms of depression. The signs and symptoms are the main factors that are used to differentiate types of depression. Symptoms evident in chronic depression victims are similar to those evident in clinical depression victims but are slightly intense. Some of the symptoms that Dysthymia patients display include the patient feeling guilty, feeling helpless, having problems with sleep, feeling disinterested in some activities that they used to enjoy, feelings of fatigue, change in eating habits, slow thinking, cramps and feeling worthless leading to thinking of committing suicide.

If a person notices the above symptoms it is advisable to get a diagnosis from a qualified doctor for Dysthymia. Dysthymia diagnosis is performed mainly concentrating on the symptoms but by a qualified health specialist. To be able to determine that the symptoms shown in a victim are truly associated with chronic depression, they should be evident for a long period of time. The things that the doctors avoid by checking on the time that the symptoms have been experienced, is to avoid judging wrongly on short term symptoms which may be caused by either the use of medication or drug abuse. Chronic depression diagnosis does not involve any blood samples or x-rays but only involves the analysis of the visible symptoms.

Though it is not clear the actual cause of Dysthymia, specialists believe that it may be probably caused by changes in serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical found in the human brain that helps them in the controlling of their emotions. Since chronic depression mainly affects an individual’s emotions it is therefore believed that it can be the cause of chronic depression. Dysthymia can also be said to be caused by the common things that stress people in day to day activities such as work and relationship issues.

Though Dysthymia is seen to be a severe disorder it can be treated by local physicians. There are a couple of ways to treat chronic depression. The first step to treatment of any disorder is the acceptance and early diagnosis. If a patient is diagnosed at an early stage it is easy to suppress some of the symptoms before they become more pronounced. Antidepressants are commonly used in the treatment of depression. Doctors may also recommend the use of psychotherapy for the treatment of chronic depression or a combination of psychotherapy and other medication.