Dysphoria

Dysphoria (from Greek δύσφορος (dysphoros), from δυσ-, difficult, and φέρειν, to bear) (semantically opposite of euphoria) is medically recognized as a mental and emotional condition in which a person experiences intense feelings of depression, discontent and indifference to the world around them.^[1]

Mood disorders can induce dysphoria, often with a heightened risk of suicide, especially in persons with bipolar disorder who are in a depressive phase.^[1]

As the term refers only to a condition of mood, dysphoria may be experienced in response to ordinary life events, such as great illness or grief.

Dysphoria can also be chemically induced by some commonly used psychoactive drugs, such as typical and atypical antipsychotics.^[2]

Related conditions

The following conditions may include dysphoria as a symptom:

• Clinical depression (unipolar) and dysthymia

• Bipolar disorder^[1] and cyclothymia

• Premenstrual Syndrome

• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder

• Stress

• Adjustment disorder with depressed mood

• Anxiety disorders such as PTSD.

• Gender identity disorder, sometimes called gender dysphoria

• Personality disorders such as borderline personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder

• Substance withdrawal

• Body dysmorphic disorder

• Hypoglycemia

• Schizophrenia

• Sexual Dysfunction

• Species dysphoria, a feeling of having been "born in the wrong body."

• Insomnia^[3]

• Chronic pain^[4]

See also

• Comedown (drugs)

Notes

References

• Abbess, John F. "Glossary of terms in the field of psychiatry and neurology". http://www.abess.com/glossary.html. Retrieved 2006-11-18. 
• "Dysphoria." Alleydog.com Psychology Glossary.
• Metcalf, Matthew; and Coop, Andrew (2005). "Kappa Opioid Antagonists: Past Successes and Future Prospects". The AAPS Journal (American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists) 7 (3): E704–E722. doi:10.1208/aapsj070371. ISSN 1522-1059. PMC 2751273. PMID 16353947. http://www.aapsj.org/view.asp?art=aapsj070371. Retrieved 2006-11-19. 
• Read, Kimberly (2006). "What is dysphoria?". Your Guide to Bipolar Disorder. About.com. http://bipolar.about.com/cs/faqs/f/faq_dysphoria.htm. Retrieved 2006-11-19.