What is the difference between dysthymic disorder and depression

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Seeing a mental health professional is the first step to recovery. Taking the time to go to therapy is an investment in your health and well-being; the condition will not go away on its own. Typically, a combination of both psychotherapy and medication leads to the best outcomes. Further, according to a study that followed people experiencing dysthymia for nine years, one of the most important factors of recovery is having confidence in your health care providers.

This may mean trying out different therapists and psychiatrists until you find one that best fits your needs. Learning these tools and preparing yourself to handle difficult symptoms requires patience. It can be challenging to have hope for recovery when depression is your norm—when feeling good seems more like a memory than a possibility.

But recovery is possible. It takes effort and commitment, but you deserve to feel better. We feature the latest research, stories of recovery, ways to end stigma and strategies for living well with mental illness. Most importantly: We feature your voices. PDD symptoms include :. Mood disorders have genetic and external causes. In the case of MDD, scientists do not yet know how these factors interact, and they believe that each symptom of MDD may have different causes.

However, researchers believe that a part of the brain called the hippocampus plays a large part in MDD — in a person with MDD, the hippocampus is smaller than that of a person without the disorder. The hippocampus helps with making memories, adapting to stressful situations, and processing emotions. A reduction in the size of this part of the brain can affect its ability to function. MDD also reduces the amount of gray matter in the brain. Gray matter is involved in numerous processes, including speech, decision making, and self-control.

The neurotransmitters serotonin , dopamine, and norepinephrine travel through gray matter. When MDD reduces the amount of gray matter, this disturbs the passage of these neurotransmitters, leading to the symptoms of the disorder.

Factors that increase the chances of developing MDD include :. Research into the causes of PDD is ongoing, but scientists believe that the disruption of the neurotransmitters serotonin, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and glutamate plays a role. Researchers have also found that certain parts of the brain, such as the orbitofrontal cortex and the hippocampus, are smaller in people who have PDD than those who do not.

Other causes of PDD are genetic, environmental, and psychological. Some of these include :. Doctors, including psychiatrists, use the symptoms of MDD to diagnose it. For a doctor to recognize MDD, a person must have at least five of the symptoms, one of which must be feeling depressed often or experiencing a loss of interest or pleasure in life. The symptoms that doctors use to diagnose MDD are symptoms of major depressive episodes.

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Get helpful tips and guidance for everything from fighting inflammation to finding the best diets for weight loss Stay on top of latest health news from Harvard Medical School. Recent Blog Articles. Health news headlines can be deceiving. Why is topical vitamin C important for skin health? Preventing preeclampsia may be as simple as taking an aspirin. Caring for an aging parent? Tips for enjoying holiday meals.