Which term is synonymous with persistent depressive disorder?

Persistent depressive disorder is indeed synonymous with dysthymia. This term reflects a chronic form of depression characterized by a consistently low mood lasting for at least two years in adults (or one year in children and adolescents). Individuals with this disorder often experience a series of depressive symptoms that may fluctuate in severity but are generally present most of the time.

On the other hand, major depressive disorder refers to a more episodic condition where individuals experience significant depressive episodes that can last weeks or months but are not required to be persistent over such a long duration. Cyclothymia is a mood disorder that involves periods of hypomanic symptoms and periods of depressive symptoms that are less severe than those found in major depressive disorder or persistent depressive disorder. Manic depressive disorder is an outdated term that referred to what is now known as bipolar disorder, which includes both depressive and manic episodes.

Understanding the nuances between these terms is crucial for recognizing the different types of mood disorders and their characteristics in clinical practice.