Relationship between dysthymia and major depression: an analysis of family study data

Abstract

Although there is high comorbidity between major depression (MOD) and dysthymia, the nature of this relationship is unclear. An ongoing family study provided an oppomnity t o examine this relationship. Data are presented on 43J directly interviewed adultfirst degree relatives of 45 screened normal control probands and 148 probands in three clinical diagnostic groups: panic disorder only, panic disorder plus MDD, and early onset M D D without panic. Many of the psychiatrically ill probands also had comorbid dysthymia. Best estimate diagnoses on all relatives were made blind to proband diagnostic status using direct information obtained with the SADS-LA and/or family history information J;om multiple informants obtained using a modified version of the FH-RDC. We sought to determine the relationship between DSM-III-R dysthymia and panic disorder and/or M D D and to assess whether or not dysthymia is specajkally transmitted within families. Controlling f o r comorbidity in probands, we found no familial association between panic disorder and dysthymia but we did find a n increased risk of dysthymia in relatives of probands with early onset MDD. Additionally we found specific transmission of dysthymia to relatives independent of presence of comorbid panic disorder and/or M D D in probands. These findings support the validity of dysthymia as a spec a~c disorder and mggest as well that dysthymia may be on the spectrum of early onset MDD. Depression 2: 252-258 (1994/1995). o 1995 Wiley-~iss, Inc.

A Family Study of Major Depressive Disorder in a Community Sample of Adolescents

“…This is consistent with family studies of adult probands that have reported a familial relationship between dysthymia and MDD. 56,57 Previous studies, from both the bottom-up and topdown perspectives, have reported conflicting findings regarding the specificity of familial aggregation of juvenile MDD. [18][19][20]22,25,26,29 The present study examined this issue from 2 directions and in both cases found evidence of specificity.…”

Dysthymic disorder: Treatment with citalopram

“…However, patients with dysthymic disorder demonstrate considerable psychosocial morbidity [Friedman, 1993;Thase et al, 1996;Kocsis et al, 1997]. Similarities of clinical and familial factors of patients with dysthymic disorder and those with chronic major depressive disorder have been reported, and include rates of chronic depression in relatives, symptoms of depression, course of illness, and treatment response [Akiskal, 1981;Akiskal et al, 1980;Goodman et al, 1994Goodman et al, , 1995Han et al, 1995;Klein et al, 1995;Pages and Dunner, 1997;Yang and Dunner, 2001].…”