PsychologyJuly 24, 2026

dysthymia

dis-THY-mee-uh

Definition

A chronic, persistent form of depressive disorder characterized by long-term low mood that is less severe than major depression but lasts for an extended period.

Etymology

The word is derived from the Greek 'dusthumia', meaning 'despondency' or 'low spirits', composed of 'dus-' (bad/difficult) and 'thumos' (spirit/mind).

In the news

In the article, dysthymia is categorized as a type of mood disorder that has seen a significant increase in prevalence among young Australians.

Mental disorders surge among young adults

Read the full article ↗

Medical Xpress

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