Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesRisk FactorsDiagnosisTreatmentWill It Go Away?Seeking Medical Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Risk Factors
Diagnosis
Treatment
Will It Go Away?
Seeking Medical Care
Persistent depressive disorder (PDD) is a common type of chronic depression. Symptoms are often mild or moderate. This problem lasts for two years or longer.
“Persistent depressive disorder” is a somewhat new term. It is used to combine what was called dysthymia and chronic major depressive disorder in the past.
As with other types of chronic depression, people with this problem deal with feelings of deep sadness. They often live with a low, dark mood that may last for years. PDD is less severe but may last longer than major depressive disorder (MDD).
Most people with PDD canmanage symptomsusing prescribed drugs andtalk therapy. Without treatment, people with PDD have a higher risk of major depression.
This article includes all you need to know about PDD. It describes PDD symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis, treatment, and outlook.
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Depression Symptoms and PDD
Persistent depressive disorder causes a continuous feeling of low-level sadness or dark feelings over a long period. These symptoms typically develop slowly, beginning in childhood or young adulthood.
PDD tends to be milder than episodes that occur inmajor depressive disorder(also called clinical depression). In addition, PDD symptoms are constant and last for years, while major depressive disorder has repeated episodes of depression and recovery.
The American Psychiatric Association’sDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition(DSM-5) provides the standardized criteria for diagnosing persistent depressive disorder. A person with PDD has all the following characteristics:
How Long Do Depressive Episodes Last?
What Causes PDD?
Scientists do not know the exact causes of PDD. Research indicates that it likely involves a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors.
Factors that can contribute to persistent depressive disorder include the following:
What Causes Depression?
Risk Factors for PDD
It is difficult to predict who will develop PDD. For many people, the problem begins early in life, often as early as childhood, adolescence, or young adulthood. Having the following risk factors seems to increase your chances of developing PDD:
Is Depression Genetic?
Diagnosing PDD
If you have feelings of hopelessness, sadness, or emptiness for a long time, you may think that these feelings are simply part of your life. However, getting an accurate diagnosis can help you improve symptoms and live a better quality of life.
While there are no depression tests for identifying PDD, the following evaluations are used to reach a diagnosis:
Your healthcare provider will also consider adifferential diagnosisto distinguish a persistent depressive disorder from other disorders with similar features. The differential diagnosis for PDD includes the following:
How Depression Is Diagnosed
How PDD Is Treated
PDD treatment involves an approach that uses a combination of medication and psychotherapy individualized to the type and severity of your symptoms.
Research indicates that medication and psychotherapy together are more effective than using either treatment alone. This combination has been linked with significantly higher rates of improvement, especially in more chronic, severe, and complex cases of depression versus using one form of treatment alone.
What Types of Therapy Are Helpful for Depression?
Medication
Several types of antidepressants treat PDD. Factors such as your personal and family histories of medication response, your preference, drug cost, and drug accessibility under insurance coverage are also considered.
It may take some time for you to find the drug that improves your symptoms with the least side effects. You may notice improvement as early as within two weeks, though full relief of symptoms may not occur until at least eight to 12 weeks.
The following medications include those most often used to treat persistent depressive disorder:
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs),including the following, which are typically used as a first-line treatment, may be prescribed:
Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), including the following, may be prescribed:
Atypical antidepressants, such as the following, may be prescribed:
What Is Unipolar Depression?
Therapy
Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is regarded as the first-line therapy treatment for mild to moderate depression like PDD. The type of psychotherapy you receive depends on your situation, including your symptoms and preference as well as a counselor’s background and availability.
Research indicates no significant differences among the various types of psychotherapy in treating depression. The various types of psychotherapy used include, but are not limited to, the following:
Lifestyle Changes
Medication and psychotherapy can help relieve symptoms, but making certain lifestyle changes can support your improvement, improve your quality of life, and help prevent your symptoms from progressing. These lifestyle changes include the following:
10 Natural Remedies for Depression
Does PDD Ever Go Away?
PDD is a chronic condition that can last for many years. It’s difficult to predict how long your symptoms will last. Many people continue to have symptoms despite continuous treatment. Others recover fully.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Ignoring symptoms of PDD increases the chances of your problem worsening. Contact a healthcare provider if you have the following issues:
Get immediate help for signs of suicide risk, which include the following:
Getting Emergency CareIf you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call 911 immediately or go to a hospital emergency room. You can also get free and confidential support 24/7 at the988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline:Call or text 988Chat988lifeline.org
Getting Emergency Care
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call 911 immediately or go to a hospital emergency room. You can also get free and confidential support 24/7 at the988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline:Call or text 988Chat988lifeline.org
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call 911 immediately or go to a hospital emergency room. You can also get free and confidential support 24/7 at the988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline:
Summary
Persistent depressive disorder is a type of chronic depression. Symptoms can involve feelings of deep sadness. These dark feelings can begin in childhood or early adulthood. They may last for years due to the chronic nature of this problem.
With a proper diagnosis and treatment, people with PDD can often improve their quality of life. Treatment involves using a combined approach of prescribed drugs and talk therapy. Making certain lifestyle changes can also help you improve. Do not ignore PDD symptoms. If left untreated, PDD symptoms can get worse.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Family Physicians.Persistent depressive disorder (PDD).National Institute of Mental Health.Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymic disorder).Harvard Health Publishing: Harvard Medical School.Persistent depressive disorder (dysthmia).Administration SA and MHS.Table 3. 5, dsm-iv to dsm-5 dysthymic disorder comparison.National Institute of Mental Health.What is depression?St. Clair Health.Persistent depressive disorder.Park LT, Zarate CA.Depression in the primary care setting.N Engl J Med. 2019;380(23):2279-2280. doi:10.1056/NEJMc1903259Anxiety & Depression Association of America.Treatment & management.MIT Medical.FAQ: antidepressants.Karrouri R, Hammani Z, Benjelloun R, Otheman Y.Major depressive disorder: Validated treatments and future challenges.World J Clin Cases. 2021;9(31):9350-9367. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v9.i31.9350Mount Sinai.Persistent depressive disorder.MedlinePlus.Persistent depressive disorder.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Family Physicians.Persistent depressive disorder (PDD).National Institute of Mental Health.Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymic disorder).Harvard Health Publishing: Harvard Medical School.Persistent depressive disorder (dysthmia).Administration SA and MHS.Table 3. 5, dsm-iv to dsm-5 dysthymic disorder comparison.National Institute of Mental Health.What is depression?St. Clair Health.Persistent depressive disorder.Park LT, Zarate CA.Depression in the primary care setting.N Engl J Med. 2019;380(23):2279-2280. doi:10.1056/NEJMc1903259Anxiety & Depression Association of America.Treatment & management.MIT Medical.FAQ: antidepressants.Karrouri R, Hammani Z, Benjelloun R, Otheman Y.Major depressive disorder: Validated treatments and future challenges.World J Clin Cases. 2021;9(31):9350-9367. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v9.i31.9350Mount Sinai.Persistent depressive disorder.MedlinePlus.Persistent depressive disorder.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Persistent depressive disorder (PDD).National Institute of Mental Health.Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymic disorder).Harvard Health Publishing: Harvard Medical School.Persistent depressive disorder (dysthmia).Administration SA and MHS.Table 3. 5, dsm-iv to dsm-5 dysthymic disorder comparison.National Institute of Mental Health.What is depression?St. Clair Health.Persistent depressive disorder.Park LT, Zarate CA.Depression in the primary care setting.N Engl J Med. 2019;380(23):2279-2280. doi:10.1056/NEJMc1903259Anxiety & Depression Association of America.Treatment & management.MIT Medical.FAQ: antidepressants.Karrouri R, Hammani Z, Benjelloun R, Otheman Y.Major depressive disorder: Validated treatments and future challenges.World J Clin Cases. 2021;9(31):9350-9367. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v9.i31.9350Mount Sinai.Persistent depressive disorder.MedlinePlus.Persistent depressive disorder.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Persistent depressive disorder (PDD).
National Institute of Mental Health.Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymic disorder).
Harvard Health Publishing: Harvard Medical School.Persistent depressive disorder (dysthmia).
Administration SA and MHS.Table 3. 5, dsm-iv to dsm-5 dysthymic disorder comparison.
National Institute of Mental Health.What is depression?
St. Clair Health.Persistent depressive disorder.
Park LT, Zarate CA.Depression in the primary care setting.N Engl J Med. 2019;380(23):2279-2280. doi:10.1056/NEJMc1903259
Anxiety & Depression Association of America.Treatment & management.
MIT Medical.FAQ: antidepressants.
Karrouri R, Hammani Z, Benjelloun R, Otheman Y.Major depressive disorder: Validated treatments and future challenges.World J Clin Cases. 2021;9(31):9350-9367. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v9.i31.9350
Mount Sinai.Persistent depressive disorder.
MedlinePlus.Persistent depressive disorder.
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