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dysthymia

noun
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dys·​thy·​mia | \ dis-ˈthī-mē-ə How to pronounce dysthymia (audio) \

Definition of dysthymia

: a mood disorder characterized by chronic mildly depressed or irritable mood often accompanied by other symptoms (such as eating and sleeping disturbances, fatigue, and poor self-esteem)

— called also dysthymic disorder

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Other Words from dysthymia

dysthymic \ dis-​ˈthī-​mik How to pronounce dysthymic (audio) \ adjective or noun

Examples of dysthymia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web There are several different forms of depression (like dysthymia, postpartum depression, or seasonal affective disorder), but major depressive disorder is typically the form that most people are familiar with. — D. Elizabeth, SELF, "This Is Why Michelle Williams Checked Into Treatment for Her Mental Health This Summer," 24 Oct. 2018 Diagnoses like depression, dysthymia, seasonal affective disorder, and bipolar disorder all benefit from CBT, too. — Molly Burford, Allure, "What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and How Does It Work?," 16 Oct. 2019 Silverman explains that in the DSM-5, experts essentially collapsed two mood disorders—chronic major depressive disorder and dysthymia—into one: PDD. — Claire Gillespie, SELF, "What Exactly Does It Mean to Have ‘High-Functioning’ Depression?," 19 Nov. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dysthymia.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of dysthymia

1844, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for dysthymia

probably borrowed from German Dysthymie, borrowed from Greek dysthȳmía "despondency, despair," from dýsthȳmos "despondent, melancholy" (from dys- dys- + ¬-thȳmos, adjective derivative of thȳmós "spirit, mind, courage") + -ia -ia;1 — more at fume entry 1

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The first known use of dysthymia was in 1844

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Last Updated

31 Jan 2020

Cite this Entry

“Dysthymia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dysthymia. Accessed 25 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for dysthymia

dysthymia

noun
dys·​thy·​mia | \ dis-ˈthī-mē-ə How to pronounce dysthymia (audio) \

Medical Definition of dysthymia

: a mood disorder characterized by chronic mildly depressed or irritable mood often accompanied by other symptoms (as eating and sleeping disturbances, fatigue, and poor self-esteem)

— called also dysthymic disorder

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