Dysthymic Disorder Among Adults - Key Statistics and Prevalence

Dysthymic disorder is characterized by chronic low-level depression. While the depression is not as severe as that characterizing major depressive disorder, a diagnosis of dysthymia requires having experienced a combination of depressive symptoms for two years or more. Dysthymic disorder affects approximately 1.5 percent of the adult population in the United States.

• 3% of the population may be affected by Dysthymic Disorder. Within a lifetime it appears to affect approximately 6%.
• Dysthymic Disorder is more common in women, younger than 64 years old, than men.
• There are no gender differences for incidence rates.
• It is more common in unmarried and young persons.
• It is also common with persons with low incomes.