Cyclothymia (patient information)
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Editor-in-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S.,M.D. [1] Phone:617-632-7753; Associate Editor-In-Chief: Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan, M.B.B.S.
Overview
Cyclothymic disorder is a mild form of bipolar disorder (manic depressive illness) in which a person has mood swings over a period of years that go from mild depression to euphoria and excitement.
What are the symptoms of Cyclothymia?
- Episodes of hypomania and mild depression occur for at least 2 years (1 or more years in children and adolescents)
- Mood swings are less severe than in bipolar disorder, 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 depression, 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.
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, 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.
Where to find medical care for Cyclothymia?
Directions to Hospitals Treating Cyclothymia
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
- Less than half of people with cyclothymic disorder will eventually develop 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.