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The following is the list of symptoms you’d have to have in order to be
diagnosed with Dysthymia (sometimes referred to as Melancholia or
“Minor-Depression”. Most people do not know exactly what depression is, or
if their symptoms are severe enough to be depression, so I wanted to give you
the exact criteria therapists use (this comes straight out of the Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric
Association) to diagnose depression (see Depression criteria), and Dysthymia.
This is not meant to replace assessment by a licensed and competent clinician,
but only as a reference point. -Megan
Johntz, M.S., L.P.C. DYSTHYMIC
DISORDER
From the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, IV, published by the American Psychiatric Association, the following criteria must be present in order to warrant a diagnosis of Dysthymia.
1)
Depressed mood for most of the day, for more days than not, for at least
two years. 2)
Presence, while depressed, of two or more of the following:
poor appetite or overeating
insomnia or hypersomnia
low energy or fatigue
low self-esteem
poor concentration or difficulty in making decisions
feelings of hopelessness 3)
During the two year period of the disturbance, the person has never been
without the symptoms in Criteria 1 and 2 for more
than 2 months at a time. 4)
No major depressive episode has been present during the first 2 years of
the disturbance. 5)
There has never been a manic episode, a mixed episode, or a hypomanic
episode, and criteria have never been met for
cyclothymic disorder. 6)
The disturbance does not occur exclusively during the course of a chronic
psychotic disorder. 7)
The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a
substance or a general medical condition. 8)
The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in
social, Contact Johntz Presentations today and put PsychTools to work for your organization's success.
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