Dysphoric

Dysphoric is an adjective used in psychology and psychiatry to describe a mood state of unease, dissatisfaction, or distress. The term derives from the Greek dys- meaning "bad" and phoria meaning "bearing" or "carrying." In clinical contexts, dysphoric mood refers to feelings such as restlessness, sadness, irritability, or a sense that life or circumstances are not right.

Dysphoric states appear across a range of conditions. They may accompany mood disorders such as major depressive disorder or dysthymia, anxiety disorders, substance withdrawal, or premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Dysphoria is the broader experience; it is not synonymous with a specific diagnosis. The severity, duration, and level of impairment help determine clinical significance.

In discussions of gender identity, the term is connected to gender dysphoria, which describes distress arising from a mismatch between experienced gender and assigned sex. Dysphoric feelings, however, can occur outside gender-related issues as part of general mood disturbance, making it a cross-cutting descriptive term rather than a diagnosis in itself.

Clinicians assess dysphoric mood through patient history, interviews, and, when appropriate, standardized mood measures. The term emphasizes uncomfortable or dissatisfied affect rather than elation or neutrality, and it is most useful as a descriptive pointer within broader diagnostic considerations.