Dysphoria

For the moth genus, see Dysphoria (moth). For the game, see Dys4ia.

Not to be confused with Diaphoresis, Dysmorphia, or Diaspora.

Dysphoria (from Ancient Greek δύσφορος (dúsphoros) 'grievous'; from δυσ- (dus-) 'bad, difficult' and φέρω (phérō) 'to bear') is a profound state of unease or dissatisfaction. It is the semantic opposite of euphoria. In a psychiatric context, dysphoria may accompany depression, anxiety, or agitation.^[1]

In psychiatry

Intense states of distress and unease increase the risk of suicide, as well as being unpleasant in themselves. Relieving dysphoria is therefore a priority of psychiatric treatment. One may treat underlying causes such as depression (especially dysthymia or major depressive disorder) or bipolar disorder as well as the dysphoric symptoms themselves.^{[citation needed]}

The 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) defines dysphoria as "an unpleasant mood state, which can include feelings of depression, anxiety, discontent, irritability, and unhappiness."^[2]

Dissatisfaction with being able-bodied can be diagnosed as body integrity dysphoria in the ICD-11.^[3]

Gender dysphoria

Main article: Gender dysphoria

Gender dysphoria is discomfort, unhappiness or distress due to the primary and secondary sex characteristics of one's sex assigned at birth. The current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, DSM-5, uses the term "gender dysphoria" where it previously referred to "gender identity disorder."

Related conditions

The following conditions may include dysphoria as a symptom:

• Major depressive disorder (unipolar) and dysthymia
• Bipolar disorder^[4] and cyclothymia
• Borderline personality disorder
• Premenstrual syndrome
• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
• Dysphoric milk ejection reflex
• Stress
• Adjustment disorder with depressed mood
• Anxiety disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder
• Dysphoric rumination^[5]
• Dissociative disorders such as dissociative identity disorder, dissociative amnesia and depersonalization-derealization disorder.
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, defined as emotional deregulation or unbearable RSD "rejection sensitivity dysphoria"
• Mixed anxiety-depressive disorder
• Gender dysphoria
• Personality disorders such as borderline personality disorder, dependent personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, and antisocial personality disorder
• Substance withdrawal
• Body dysmorphic disorder
• Akathisia
• Schizophrenia
• Sexual dysfunction
• Body integrity dysphoria
• Insomnia^[6]
• Chronic pain^[7]
• Disease

Drug-induced (dysphoriants)

Some drugs can produce dysphoria, including κ-opioid receptor agonists like salvinorin A (the active constituent of the hallucinogenic plant Salvia divinorum), butorphanol and pentazocine,^[8] μ-opioid receptor antagonists such as naltrexone and nalmefene,^[9] and antipsychotics like haloperidol and chlorpromazine (via blockade of dopamine receptors),^[10] among others. Depressogenic and/or anxiogenic drugs may also be associated with dysphoria.

In popular culture

Against Me! released the album Transgender Dysphoria Blues in which the lead singer Laura Jane Grace shares her experiences of gender dysphoria.^[11]

Shane Neilson released a book of poetry entitled Dysphoria (Erin, ON: The Porcupine's Quill, 2017) in which he explores the experience of dysphoria.^[12]