Incidence and prevalence of dysthymia among young adults in China, 1990–2021, with forecasts to 2046: an age-period-cohort analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Enhancing early diagnostic capabilities in primary care, advancing standardized treatment strategies, improving mental health literacy through health education and social media, and implementing targeted interventions for high-risk groups-particularly young women and individuals in early adulthood-are essential for alleviating the burden of dysthymia in China and other countries with similar demographic and epidemiological characteristics.