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Dysthymia
DysthymiaA type of depression involving long-term, chronic symptoms that are not disabling, but keep a person from functioning at "full steam" or from feeling good. Dysthymia is a less severe type of depression than what is accorded the diagnosis of major depression. However, people with dysthymia may also sometimes experience major depressive episodes, suggesting that there is a continuum between dysthymia and major depression. RELATED TERMS-------------------------------------- Depression A mental state of depressed mood characterized by feelings of sadness, despair and discouragement. Depression ranges from normal feelings of the blues through dysthymia to major depression. It in many ways resembles the grief and mourning that follow bereavement, there are often feelings of low self esteem, guilt and self reproach, withdrawal from interpersonal contact and physical symptoms such as eating and sleep disturbances. Chronic Ongoing or recurring. Chronic medical conditions include diabetes, epilepsy, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Dysthymia A type of depression involving long-term, chronic symptoms that are not disabling, but keep a person from functioning at "full steam" or from feeling good. Dysthymia is a less severe type of depression than what is accorded the diagnosis of major depression. However, people with dysthymia may also sometimes experience major depressive episodes, suggesting that there is a continuum between dysthymia and major depression. Diagnosis The determination of the presence of a specific disease or infection, usually accomplished by evaluating clinical symptoms and laboratory tests. SIMILAR TERMS-------------------------------------- Dystocia When labor does not progress. Uterine dystocia is when contractions donot intensify; shoulder dystocia is when a baby's Dystocia, fetal Dystocia caused by the fetus due to its size (too big), shape or position in the uterus. Dystonia Dystonia is a neurological movement disorder with involuntary muscle contractions, forcing specific parts of the body into abnormal movements or positions, sometimes causing pain. Dystonia musculorum deformans (DMD) Also called torsion dystonia, this is a fortunately rare, generalized dystonia (a state of abnormal -- either excessive of inadequate -- muscle tone) that can be inherited, usually begins in childhood, and becomes progressively worse. It can leave individuals seriously disabled and confined to a wheelchair. Dystonia, dopa-responsive (DRD) A condition that typically begins in childhood or adolescence with progressive difficulty in walking and, in some cases, spasticity and can be successfully treated with drugs. Segawa dystonia is an important variant of DRD. In Segawa dystonia, the symptoms fluctuate during the day from relative mobility in the morning to increasing disability in the afternoon and evening and after exercise. DRD may not only be rare but also rarely diagnosed since it mimics some forms of cerebral palsy. Dystonia, idiopathic torsion A form of dystonia known as early-onset torsion dystonia (also called generalized torsion dystonia) begins in childhood around the age of 12. Symptoms typically start in one part of the body, usually in an arm or leg, and eventually spread to the rest of the body within about 5 years. Early-onset torsion dystonia is not fatal, but it can be severely debilitating. Dystonia, oromandibular Oromandibular dystonia affects the muscles of the jaw, lips, and tongue. The jaw may be pulled either open or shut, and speech and swallowing can be difficult. Dystonia, Segawa An important variant form of dopa-responsive dystonia (DRD). DRD typically begins in childhood or adolescence with progressive difficulty in walking and, in some cases, with spasticity. DRD, by definition, can be successfully treated with dopa. In Segawa dystonia, the symptoms fluctuate during the day from relative mobility in the morning to increasingly worse disability in the afternoon and evening and after exercise. Dystonia, torsion A form of dystonia known as early-onset torsion dystonia (also called idiopathic or generalized torsion dystonia) begins in childhood around the age of 12. Symptoms typically start in one part of the body, usually in an arm or leg, and eventually spread to the rest of the body within about 5 years. Early-onset torsion dystonia is not fatal, but it can be severely debilitating. Most children with the disorder are unable to perform the simplest of motor tasks and are confined to a wheelchair by the time they reach adulthood. Dystopia Displacement. Dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa A blistering skin condition inherited in both autosomal dominant and recessive manners and in which the filaments that anchor the epidermis to the underlying dermis are either absent or do not function. This is due to defects in the gene for type VII collagen, a fibrous protein that is the main component of the anchoring filaments. Dystrophin A protein, a chemical substance made by muscle fibers. Dystrophy Partial atrophy of tissue or an organ as a result of imperfect cell nutrition. Dystrophy, autoimmune polyendocrinopathy Dystrophy, autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal (APECED) is a genetic autoimmune disease with an extraordinary array of clinical features but characterized most often by at least 2 of the following 3 findings: hypoparathyroidism -- underfunction of the parathyroid glands which control calcium, candidiasis (yeast infection), and adrenal insufficiency (underfunction of the adrenal gland). APECED was the first systemic (bodywide) autoimmune disease found due to a defect in a single gene. Dystrophy, cone A disease of the cones, the specialized light-sensitive cells that act as photoreceptors in the retina of the eye, providing sharp central vision and color vision. The cone dystrophies are a form of genetic macular degeneration characterized by progressive deterioration of the cones that leads to the distinctive triad of loss of color vision, photophobia, and reduced central vision. Cone dystrophy genes have been mapped to chromosome regions 6p21.1, 6q25-q26, 17p12-13, and Xp21.1-p11.3. In region 6p21.1, mutations have been found in the gene that encodes GCAP1, a key component in the recovery of photoreceptor cells to the dark-adapted state after exposure to a light stimulus. Dystrophy, muscular One of a group of genetic diseases characterized by progressive weakness and degeneration of the skeletal or voluntary muscles which control movement. The muscles of the heart and some other involuntary muscles are also affected in some forms of muscular dystrophy, and a few forms involve other organs as well. The major forms of muscular dystrophy include: Duchenne muscular dystrophy; Becker muscular dystrophy; limb-girdle muscular dystrophy; facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy; congenital muscular dystrophy; oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy; distal muscular dystrophy; Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy and myotonic dystrophy. Muscular dystrophy can affect people of all ages. Although some forms first become apparent in infancy or childhood, others may not appear until middle age or later. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the most common kind of muscular dystrophy affecting children. Myotonic dystrophy is the most common of these diseases in adults. Dystrophy, myotonic An inherited disease in which the muscles contract but have decreasing power to relax -- this phenomenon is termed myotonia (irritability and prolonged contraction of muscles). The disease also produces leads to a mask-like expressionless face, premature balding, cataracts, and heart arrhythmias (abnormalities in heart rhythm). The onset of such problems is usually in young adulthood. However, onset can be at any age and the disease is extremely variable in the degree of severity. PREVIOUS AND NEXT TERMS-------------------------------------- Dysplastic nevus An atypical mole whose appearance is different from that of a common ordinary mole. Dysplastic nevi tend to be larger than ordinary moles, have more irregular borders, are often mixed in color and present in large numbers. A dysplastic nevus can give rise to malignant melanoma. Dyspnoea Difficult or labored breathing; shortness of breath. Dyspnoea is a sign of serious disease of the airway, lungs, or heart. The onset of dyspnoea should not be ignored but is reason to seek medical attention. Dyspraxia Impaired or painful function of any organ of the body. Dyspraxia of speech A developmental disability characterized by difficulty in muscle control, specifically of the muscles involved in producing speech. It is caused by a neurological difference that has not yet been pinpointed. Treatment is via intensive speech therapy concentrating on oral-motor skills. Dyspraxia, developmental A pattern of delayed, uneven, or aberrant development of physical abilities during childhood development. The physical abilities affected may be gross or fine motor skills. Developmental dyspraxia may be seen alone or in combination with other developmental problems, particularly apraxia or dyspraxia of speech. Treatment is via early intervention, using physical therapy to improve gross motor skills and occupational therapy to assist in fine motor development and sensory integration. Dysthymia Dystocia, fetal Dystocia caused by the fetus due to its size (too big), shape or position in the uterus. Dystonia musculorum deformans (DMD) Also called torsion dystonia, this is a fortunately rare, generalized dystonia (a state of abnormal -- either excessive of inadequate -- muscle tone) that can be inherited, usually begins in childhood, and becomes progressively worse. It can leave individuals seriously disabled and confined to a wheelchair. Dystonia, dopa-responsive (DRD) A condition that typically begins in childhood or adolescence with progressive difficulty in walking and, in some cases, spasticity and can be successfully treated with drugs. Segawa dystonia is an important variant of DRD. In Segawa dystonia, the symptoms fluctuate during the day from relative mobility in the morning to increasing disability in the afternoon and evening and after exercise. DRD may not only be rare but also rarely diagnosed since it mimics some forms of cerebral palsy. Dystonia, idiopathic torsion A form of dystonia known as early-onset torsion dystonia (also called generalized torsion dystonia) begins in childhood around the age of 12. Symptoms typically start in one part of the body, usually in an arm or leg, and eventually spread to the rest of the body within about 5 years. Early-onset torsion dystonia is not fatal, but it can be severely debilitating. Dystonia, oromandibular Oromandibular dystonia affects the muscles of the jaw, lips, and tongue. The jaw may be pulled either open or shut, and speech and swallowing can be difficult. We thank you for using the Medical Glossary to search for Dysthymia. If you have a better definition for Dysthymia than the one presented here, please let us know by making use of the suggest a term option. This definition of Dysthymia may be disputed by other professionals. Our attempt is to provide easy definitions on Dysthymia and any other medical topic for the public at large.
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