This article reviews what is known about the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and treatment of dysthymia in the geriatric age group. Although less common in the elderly than in young adults, dysthymia may have its onset in middle or late life. Geriatric dysthymia appears to have less associated psychiatric comorbidity and closer links to severe life stresses, particularly medical illnesses, than dysthymia with early-age onset. Preliminary reports of response to antidepressant medications are encouraging in the elderly, but randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials are needed in samples of dysthymic patients in this age group.
