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Risk factors
By Mayo Clinic staffAlthough it's not clear exactly how many people may have dysthymia, evidence suggests that it's more common than is depression. That may be because dysthymia tends to start earlier in life — often in childhood or during the teenage years — and lasts longer than does depression. When dysthymia starts on or before age 21, it's called early-onset dysthymia. When it starts after that, it's called late-onset dysthymia.
Although the precise cause of dysthymia isn't known, researchers have identified certain factors that appear to increase the risk of developing or triggering dysthymia, including:
- Having biological relatives with depression
- Having biological relatives with dysthymia
- Being female
- Stressful life events
- Having a chronic medical condition
