The subtle symptoms of chronic mild depression, called dysthymia, may be so woven into people's lives they will be unaware that they have a mental health problem.
When being irritable, uninterested in life or feeling miserable goes on for years, they begin to think it's just their nature. Often it isn't.
Now a report in the American Journal of Psychiatry adds to the evidence that antidepressants offer some relief, even for people who have had symptoms for 30 years or more.
Doctors at eight university medical centers treated more than 400 patients with either Zoloft or Tofranil. Patients ranged in age from 25 to 65, and their symptoms started about age 12, on average.
After 12 weeks of treatment, about half of the patients achieved complete remission. They saw improvements in family relationships, social and work life, and the overall quality of their lives. Prozac has also been effective.
Often a near life-long pattern of behavior resulting in underachievement, poor job performance and poor family relationships can be reversed with treatment. Symptoms of dysthymia include:
1. Depressed mood for most of the day, more days than not, for at least two years.
2. No more than two months in a row without symptoms.
3. Two or more of the following: Poor appetite or overeating; insomnia or sleeping too much; low energy or fatigue; low self-esteem; poor concentration or difficulty making decisions; feelings of hopelessness.
Those who suspect they have the condition should discuss it with a physician, and then talk about treatment options.
When being irritable, uninterested in life or feeling miserable goes on for years, they begin to think it's just their nature. Often it isn't.
Now a report in the American Journal of Psychiatry adds to the evidence that antidepressants offer some relief, even for people who have had symptoms for 30 years or more.
Doctors at eight university medical centers treated more than 400 patients with either Zoloft or Tofranil. Patients ranged in age from 25 to 65, and their symptoms started about age 12, on average.
After 12 weeks of treatment, about half of the patients achieved complete remission. They saw improvements in family relationships, social and work life, and the overall quality of their lives. Prozac has also been effective.
Often a near life-long pattern of behavior resulting in underachievement, poor job performance and poor family relationships can be reversed with treatment. Symptoms of dysthymia include:
1. Depressed mood for most of the day, more days than not, for at least two years.
2. No more than two months in a row without symptoms.
3. Two or more of the following: Poor appetite or overeating; insomnia or sleeping too much; low energy or fatigue; low self-esteem; poor concentration or difficulty making decisions; feelings of hopelessness.
Those who suspect they have the condition should discuss it with a physician, and then talk about treatment options.
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