Dysthymia is a @entity102 with a high psychosocial burden. Age of onset frequently is in young adulthood. It is clinically characterized by very mild but continuous chronic @entity308 . The quality of symptoms seems to be similar to @entity308 , but the severity criteria for @entity308 are not fulfilled. After more than 2 years of dysthymia a @entity308 may occur (double @entity308 ). Neurobiological and genetic findings indicate a relation of dysthymia to @entity1316 . Antidepressants are proven to be effective without a difference between various types of drugs. Psychotherapy is also proven to be effective (e.g. behaviour therapy) and should be prescribed in combination or alone, if a @entity1 refused to take drugs. Because of the preferable side-effect profile of newer antidepressant compounds, they should be prescribed as first choice. A prophylactic treatment for 2 years is recommended. The dose of antidepressants should be in the therapeutic range for treatment of @entity308 .

[Dysthymia: a XXXX and its treatment].

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patient'] @entity1316 :: ('MESH:D019964', 'Disease') :: ['affective disorders'] @entity308 :: ('MESH:D003866', 'Disease') :: ['depressive symptoms', 'depression', 'major depression', 'episodic depressive disorders', 'depressive episode'] @entity102 :: ('MESH:D002908', 'Disease') :: ['chronic disease']
@entity102 :: (MESH:D002908,Disease) :: ['chronic illness']
