Dysthymia is differentiated from depression by its chronicity and less symptomatic severity. Chronicity causes severe harm in the routine of patients, work activities, social relationships and quality of life. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of dysthymic disorder on patients' quality of life. A semi-structured interview was held with 24 dysthymic patients and the data were analyzed by the Alceste software. In this article, the lexical class in the Treatment of dysthymia and Quality of Life was discussed. There was a cycle: sadness that interferes with day-to-day life, causing frustration and dissatisfaction, with feedback to low self-esteem, which would lead to continuity of symptoms, becoming part of the individual's everyday experience, and finally, appearing to be a way of being. From these data, it is suggested that the disorder may be interpreted by new parameters, based on the understanding of this succession of processes, which should be the focus of intervention in these patients.
Chronicity; Quality of life; Dysthymic disorder
