What Is Dysthymia?
2. Physical Symptoms
Other symptoms of persistent depressive disorder can be obvious to other people. Sufferers may stop caring about their physical appearance. They may gain or lose a substantial amount of weight as a result of their eating and sleeping patterns being disturbed. Some eat and sleep too much, while others lose the desire to do either. They are conspicuously absent from social gatherings and avoid participating in events they once enjoyed.
These physical symptoms can take a toll on the overall health of the patient. Both insomnia and hyposomnia can cause obesity and heart disease, and lack of exercise and malnutrition have similar effects. One study found those with PDD to have a death rate higher than that of the general population from physical problems unrelated to their mental condition.
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