1. Plural of dysthymia; persistent mood disorders characterized by chronic, low-grade depression lasting at least two years in adults or one year in children.
Usage: medical/psychiatric term; also called persistent depressive disorder in modern diagnostic manuals

Examples

• Dysthymias are less severe than major depressive episodes but last much longer.
• Patients with dysthymias often experience a constant low mood for years.
• The psychiatrist diagnosed several dysthymias in her practice.
• Unlike acute depression, dysthymias develop gradually and persist over extended periods.
• Treatment for dysthymias may include therapy, medication, or both.