View source for Cyclothymia (patient information)

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{{Cyclothymia (patient information)}}

'''Editor-in-Chief:''' [[C. Michael Gibson]], M.S.,M.D. [mailto:mgibson@perfuse.org] Phone:617-632-7753; '''Associate Editor-In-Chief:''' [[Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan]], M.B.B.S.

==Overview==
Cyclothymic disorder is a mild form of [[Bipolar disorder (patient information)|bipolar disorder]] (manic depressive illness) in which a person has mood swings over a period of years that go from mild [[Clinical depression (patient information)|depression]] to euphoria and excitement.

==What are the symptoms of Cyclothymia?==
*Episodes of hypomania and mild [[Clinical depression (patient information)|depression]] occur for '''at least 2 years''' (1 or more years in children and adolescents)

*[[Mood swings]] are less severe than in [[Bipolar disorder (patient information)|bipolar disorder]], [[Major depressive disorder (patient information)|major depression]], or [[mania]]

*Symptoms are persistent, with no more than 2 symptom-free months in a row

==What causes Cyclothymia?==
*'''The causes of cyclothymic disorder are unknown.''' 

*[[Major depressive disorder (patient information)|Major depression]], [[Bipolar disorder (patient information)|bipolar disorder]], and cyclothymia often occur together in families. This suggests that these mood disorders share similar causes.

*Cyclothymia usually begins early in life. It appears to be equally common in men and women.

==When to seek urgent medical care?==
*Call a mental health professional if you or a loved one has persistent alternating periods of depression and excitement that negatively affect work, school, or social life. 

*Seek immediate help if you or a loved one is having thoughts of [[Suicide (patient information)|suicide]].

==Diagnosis==
*Your description of your''' mood history''' usually leads to diagnosis of the disorder. 

*Your health care providers may order '''blood and urine tests''' to rule out medical causes of mood swings.

==Treatment options==
*'''[[Mood stabilizers]], [[antidepressants]], talk therapy''', or some combination of these three therapies may be used to treat cyclothymic disorder.

*Some of the more commonly used mood stabilizers are:
:*'''[[Lithium]]:''' Lithium has been used for years in patients with [[bipolar disorder (patient information)|bipolar disorder]], and it may also help patients with cyclothymic disorder.

:*'''Anti-seizure drugs:''' [[Valproic acid]] (Depakote), [[carbamazepine]] (Tegretol), [[oxcarbazepine]] (Trileptal), and [[lamotrigine]] (Lamictal) are the most established mood stabilizing antiseizure drugs.

*People with cyclothymia may not respond to medications as strongly as patients with [[bipolar disorder (patient information)|bipolar disorder]].

==Where to find medical care for Cyclothymia?==
[http://maps.google.com/maps?q={{urlencode:{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|map+top+hospital+Cyclothymia}}}}&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl Directions to Hospitals Treating Cyclothymia]

==What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?==
*Less than half of people with cyclothymic disorder will eventually develop [[bipolar disorder (patient information)|bipolar disorder]]. 

*In other people, cyclothymia will continue as a chronic condition or disappear with time.

==Possible complications==
The condition can progress to [[bipolar disorder (patient information)|bipolar disorder]].

==Source==
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001550.htm

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[[Category:Psychiatry patient information]]