title: A comparison of the clinical characteristics of Chinese patients with recurrent major depressive disorder with and without dysthymia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The relationship between major depressive disorder (MDD) and dysthymia, a form of chronic depression, is complex. The two conditions are highly comorbid and it is unclear whether they are two separate disease entities. We investigated the extent to which patients with dysthymia superimposed on major depression can be distinguished from those with recurrent MDD.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined the clinical features in 1970 Han Chinese women with MDD (DSM-IV) between 30 and 60 years of age across China. Logistic regression was used to determine the association between clinical features of MDD and dysthymia and between dysthymia and disorders comorbid with major depression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 354 cases with dysthymia had more severe MDD than those without, with more episodes of MDD and greater co-morbidity for anxiety disorders. Patients with dysthymia had higher neuroticism scores and were more likely to have a family history of MDD. They were also more likely to have suffered serious life events.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results were obtained in a clinically ascertained sample of Chinese women and may not generalize to community-acquired samples or to other populations. It is not possible to determine whether the associations represent causal relationships.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The additional diagnosis of dysthymia in Chinese women with recurrent MDD defines a meaningful and potentially important subtype. We conclude that in some circumstances it is possible to distinguish double depression from recurrent MDD.
authors.affiliation: Hebei Mental Health Center, No. 572 Dongfeng Road, Baoding, Hebei 071000, PR China.
authors.forename: Wenhua
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sang
authors.forename: Yihan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Fuzhong
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Wenyuan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xiaofang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.forename: Guanghua
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jianhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Mengmeng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Liyang
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authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Zheng
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authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lijuan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Guo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Tiebang
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jinbei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yanfang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Jiyang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Chunmei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Lijun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yongjin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Shoufu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Xueyi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jiannin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Luxian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Yunchun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yamei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dang
authors.forename: Shenxun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Yiping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Kenneth S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kendler
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Flint
authors.forename: Keqing
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D019263:Dysthymic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index