The above-mentioned disorders have many features in common, but there is also no shortage of differences between them. Both disorders mentioned above are characterised by low intensity symptoms. Dysthymia is called 'minor depression'. Cyclothymia, on the other hand, can be treated as a 'minor' bipolar affective disorder.
Symptoms and course cyclothymia and dysthymia
The prevalence of both entities is similar at 3-6 % (literature data inconclusive). The diagnosis of dysthymia usually occurs in the first or second decade of life, cyclothymia in the second or third decade. These disorders disorganise social life and are often associated with alcohol abuse. They are a risk factor for psychiatric disorders: dysthymia - depression, cyclothymia - bipolar affective disorder.
As mentioned earlier, there are also numerous differences between the entities mentioned. These include, above all, the therapeutic approach. For the treatment of dysthymia, the management is similar to the pharmacotherapy of depression. It is worth mentioning that the doses of medication must be relatively large, so preparations with low side effects should be chosen. In the case of cyclothymia, mood stabilisers are the drugs of choice (the predominance of either drug has not been confirmed). Complementing pharmacotherapy is psychotherapy, used for both dysthymia and cyclothymia.
Dysthymia is also distinguished from depression by its chronic course - a minimum of two years of symptoms is required for the diagnosis of dysthymia (a similar criterion applies to cyclothymia).
The co-occurrence of dysthymic disorders and depression is called double depression.
These disorders were until recently considered personality disorders, but are now included in the group of affective disorders.
When to go to the doctor and treat cyclothymia and dysthymia?
Contact with a doctor is advisable when symptoms negatively affect functioning.
