Mental & Emotional Health

While there is no known way to prevent dysthymia, there are many treatment methods available. The most common, and “best” treatment is a combination of medications and psychotherapy. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are among the most commonly prescribed antidepressants for dysthymic disorder; these include fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), bupropion (Wellbutrin), venlafaxine (Effexor), mirtazapine (Remeron), duloxetine (Cymbalta) and citalopram (Celexa). These antidepressants are easy to take and relatively safe compared to older forms of antidepressants (including tricyclic antidepressants or monoamine inhibitors). These may all still have side effects (including nausea and problems with sexual functioning) and may even cause your anxiety level to increase in the early stages and then apathy in the long run. The risk, however, of leaving your dysthymia or depression untreated is far greater than the few risks of treatment with antidepressants.

Unlike Tylenol, antidepressants may take between two and six weeks to take full effect and for the patient to see an improvement in their mood/life. The doses may have to be adjusted, re-adjusted, and it may be a few months before the absolute best positive effect will take place. Be patient! Sometimes a mood stabilizer or anti-anxiety medication may be combined with the anti-depressant in order to smooth the transitions.

Psychotherapy needs to be adjusted just like medication would. Physicians need to look at the nature of the stressful even that could have caused the dysthymia, the availability of social support and familial support as well as personal preferences for the patient. Support is essential to those going through treatment. This therapy should also include education about depression; the more information you know, the more you’ll understand what you’re living with. Cognitive behavioral therapy is designed to examine and help correct faulty, self-critical thought patterns. Psychodynamic, insight-oriented or interpersonal psychotherapy can help a person sort out conflicts in important relationships or explore the history behind the symptoms.

mental and emotional health, dysthymia, dysthymic disorder, depression, major depression, dysthymia treatment, anti-depressants, anti-anxiety, medications, psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, SSRIs, fluoxetine, Prozac, sertraline, Zoloft, paroxetine, Paxil, bupropion, Wellbutrin, venlafaxine, Effexor, mirtazapine, Remeron, duloxetine, Cymbalta, citalopram, Celexa, tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine inhibitors