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Dysthymia and Apathy : Diagnosis and Treatment
Joint Authors
Source
Depression Research and Treatment
Issue
Vol. 2011, Issue 2011 (31 Dec. 2011), pp.1-7, 7 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2011-06-27
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
7
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
Dysthymia is a depressive mood disorder characterized by chronic and persistent but mild depression.
It is often difficult to be distinguished from major depression, specifically in its partially remitted state because “loss of interest” or “apathy” tends to prevail both in dysthymia, and remitted depression.
Apathy may also occur in various psychiatric and neurological disorders, including schizophrenia, stroke, Parkinson's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, Huntington's disease, and dementias such as Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, and frontotemporal dementia.
It is symptomatologically important that apathy is related to, but different from, major depression from the viewpoint of its causes and treatment.
Antidepressants, especially noradrenergic agents, are useful for depression-related apathy.
However, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be less effective for apathy in depressed elderly patients and have even been reported to worsen apathy.
Dopaminergic agonists seem to be effective for apathy.
Acetylcholine esterase inhibitors, methylphenidate, atypical antipsychotics, nicergoline, and cilostazol are another choice.
Medication choice should be determined according to the background and underlying etiology of the targeting disease.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Ishizaki, Junko& Mimura, Masaru. 2011. Dysthymia and Apathy : Diagnosis and Treatment. Depression Research and Treatment،Vol. 2011, no. 2011, pp.1-7.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-506061
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Ishizaki, Junko& Mimura, Masaru. Dysthymia and Apathy : Diagnosis and Treatment. Depression Research and Treatment No. 2011 (2011), pp.1-7.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-506061
American Medical Association (AMA)
Ishizaki, Junko& Mimura, Masaru. Dysthymia and Apathy : Diagnosis and Treatment. Depression Research and Treatment. 2011. Vol. 2011, no. 2011, pp.1-7.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-506061
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-506061