Dysthymic Disorder Among Children - 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.

The National Comorbidity Survey – Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A) examines both dysthymic disorder and major depressive disorder together. These depressive disorders have affected approximately 11.2 percent of 13 to 18 year olds in the United States at some point during their lives. Girls are more likely than boys to experience depressive disorders. Additionally, 3.3 percent of 13 to 18 year olds have experienced a seriously debilitating depressive disorder.

1. In the last 12 months, 1.5% of US adults will be diagnosed with dysthymia. That means up to 50% of the US population that has this disorder will not receive a diagnosis.
2. 49.7% of the cases that are diagnosed will be classified as a severe form of dysthymia.
3. The average age of onset for dysthymia: 31 years of age.
4. People in the 45-59 age demographic are the most likely to be diagnosed, with 3.7% of the population being diagnosed. This is more than 2x the rate of the 18-29 age demographic and nearly 3x the 60+ age demographic.
5. 65%. That’s the percentage of people who have dysthymic disorder that are receiving treatment for it in the last 12 months.