What diagnostic criteria define Persistent Depressive Disorder?

Persistent Depressive Disorder, previously known as Dysthymia, is characterized by a chronic form of depression. The defining diagnostic criteria for this disorder require that an individual experiences a depressed mood for most of the day, for more days than not, for at least two years. For adults, during this two-year period, individuals must also have additional symptoms encapsulated by the SIGECAPS criteria, which include Sleep disturbances, Interest loss, Guilt, Energy loss, Concentration difficulties, Appetite changes, and Suicidal thoughts.

In the case of Persistent Depressive Disorder, individuals typically report having fewer than five of these symptoms during this extended period. This chronic nature differentiates it from Major Depressive Disorder, which has criteria that include having five or more symptoms for a duration of at least two weeks. Therefore, the option indicating less than five SIGECAPS symptoms over a span of more than two years accurately reflects the persistent yet less severe nature of the disorder, which is a key aspect of its diagnosis.