Psychotherapy of the postdysthymic patient.

Many patients with dysthymia respond to antidepressant pharmacotherapy. Psychotherapy of dysthymic patients has received less study, but it may have efficacy as a primary treatment or as complement to pharmacotherapy. This preliminary report offers an impression of the value of psychotherapy for 21 dysthymic responders to antidepressant medication. Successful pharmacotherapy appeared to relieve not only depressive symptoms, but also seemingly characterological traits. Yet patients who felt better than ever before lacked social skills whose development dysthymia had retarded. Case examples illustrate the importance of psychotherapy in developing personality and fostering appropriate risk-taking. Prescription of combined pharmaco- and psychotherapy may be appropriate in dysthymia.