Persistent depressive disorder is a category that includes various forms of chronic depression in which depressive symptoms are present 'more days than not' over at least a 2-year period (1 year in children and adolescents). David J. Hellerstein, Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, gives us a clinical overview of the condition. For more on persistent depressive disorder, visit BMJ Best Practice: bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/805 -

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