Persistent depressive disorder (PDD), also called dysthymia, is a form of chronic depression, with symptoms that are less severe but longer lasting than other forms of depression.  Like other forms of depression, dysthymia afflicts young people with chronic feelings of sadness or worthlessness, and an inability to take pleasure and perform well in the activities of daily life.

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With dysthymia in particular, the symptoms of depression may go unnoticed for some time, as they are less acute but longer lasting than in other forms of depression. A child with persistent depressive disorder appears to be irritable, moody, sad or pessimistic over a long period of time. Other symptoms can include behavior problems, poor performance at school, low self-esteem, and difficulty interacting with other children in social situations. The intensity of individual symptoms may ebb and flow over a period of years, but typically symptoms do not disappear for over two months at a time.