Dysthymic Disorder Workup

  • Author: Sarah C Langenfeld, MD; Chief Editor: David Bienenfeld, MD   more...
 
Updated: Mar 8, 2012
 

Approach Considerations

Lab Studies

The following lab tests can be carried out in the evaluation of patients with dysthymia:

  • Complete blood count (CBC) with a sedimentation rate
  • Thyroid function tests
  • Homocysteine and methylmalonic acid levels - These may be better for detecting folate/vitamin B-12–responsive dysthymia than would folate and vitamin B-12 levels themselves

Imaging studies

While functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) offers promise in the differential diagnosis of dysthymia, it remains strictly a research tool.

Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scanning is being offered commercially at some centers, but the existing database on depression seems too scant for this to be more than an experimental study for the depressive spectrum at this time.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Sarah C Langenfeld, MD  Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School; Attending Psychiatrist, Community HealthLink

Sarah C Langenfeld, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, and Massachusetts Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Brian R Szetela, MD  Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School; Consulting Psychiatrist, Psychiatric Consultation - Liaison Service, University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center

Brian R Szetela, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Psychiatric Association, American Society of Addiction Medicine, and Association for Convulsive Therapy

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

David Bienenfeld, MD  Professor of Psychiatry, Vice-Chair and Director of Residency Training, Department of Psychiatry, Wright State University, Boonshoft School of Medicine

David Bienenfeld, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, and Association for Academic Psychiatry

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Rebecca S Lundquist, MD Consulting Staff, Department of Psychiatry, UMass Memorial Medical Center

Rebecca S Lundquist, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Psychiatric Association

Disclosure: Pfizer Salary Employment; Biogen Salary Employment

Alan D Schmetzer, MD Professor Emeritus, Interim Chairman, Vice-Chair for Education, Associate Residency Training Director in General Psychiatry, Fellowship Training Director in Addiction Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine; Addiction Psychiatrist, Midtown Mental Health Cener at Wishard Health Services

Alan D Schmetzer, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, American Academy of Clinical Psychiatrists, American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, American College of Physician Executives, American Medical Association, American Neuropsychiatric Association, American Psychiatric Association, and Association for Convulsive Therapy

Disclosure: Eli Lilly & Co. Grant/research funds Other

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

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The various outcomes of dysthymia.
 
 
 
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