Cyclothymia
Encyclopedia
Cyclothymia is a mood
and mental disorder in the bipolar spectrum
that causes both hypomanic and depressive episodes. It is defined medically within the bipolar spectrum
and consists of recurrent disturbances between sudden hypomania
and dysthymic episodes. The diagnosis of cyclothymic disorder is not made when there is a history of mania or major depressive episode or mixed episode. The lifetime prevalence of cyclothymic disorder is 0.4-1%. The rate appears equal in men and women, though women more often seek treatment. Unlike some other forms of bipolar disorder
(to be specific, bipolar I disorder
), people with cyclothymia are more often either somewhat or fully functioning, sometimes even hyper-productive.
Cyclothymia is similar to bipolar II disorder in that it presents itself in signature hypomanic episodes. Because hypomania is often associated with exceptionally creative, outgoing, and high-functioning behavior, both conditions are often undiagnosed. As with most of the disorders in the bipolar spectrum
, it is the depressive phase that leads most sufferers to get help. The term derives from the Greek
κύκλος (kuklos), "circle" + θυμός (thumos), "temper".
Symptoms of the dysthymic phase include difficulty making decisions, problems concentrating, poor memory recall, guilt, self-criticism, low self-esteem, pessimism, self-destructive thinking, continuously feeling sad, apathy, hopelessness, helplessness, irritability, quick temper, poor judgment, lack of motivation, social withdrawal, appetite change, lack of sexual desire, self-neglect, fatigue, and insomnia.
Euphoric phase
Symptoms of the euphoric phase include unusually good mood or cheerfulness (euphoria
), extreme optimism, inflated self-esteem, rapid speech, racing thoughts
, aggressive or hostile behavior, being inconsiderate of others, agitation, massively increased physical activity, risky behavior, spending sprees, increased drive to perform or achieve goals, increased sexual drive, decreased need for sleep, tendency to be easily distracted, and inability to concentrate.
Mood disorder
Mood disorder is the term designating a group of diagnoses in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders classification system where a disturbance in the person's mood is hypothesized to be the main underlying feature...
and mental disorder in the bipolar spectrum
Bipolar spectrum
The bipolar spectrum refers to a category of mood disorders that feature abnormally elevated or depressed mood. These disorders range from bipolar I disorder, featuring full-blown manic episodes, to cyclothymia, featuring less prominent hypomanic episodes, to "subsyndromal" conditions where only...
that causes both hypomanic and depressive episodes. It is defined medically within the bipolar spectrum
Bipolar spectrum
The bipolar spectrum refers to a category of mood disorders that feature abnormally elevated or depressed mood. These disorders range from bipolar I disorder, featuring full-blown manic episodes, to cyclothymia, featuring less prominent hypomanic episodes, to "subsyndromal" conditions where only...
and consists of recurrent disturbances between sudden hypomania
Hypomania
Hypomania is a mood state characterized by persistent and pervasive elevated or irritable mood, as well as thoughts and behaviors that are consistent with such a mood state...
and dysthymic episodes. The diagnosis of cyclothymic disorder is not made when there is a history of mania or major depressive episode or mixed episode. The lifetime prevalence of cyclothymic disorder is 0.4-1%. The rate appears equal in men and women, though women more often seek treatment. Unlike some other forms of bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder or bipolar affective disorder, historically known as manic–depressive disorder, is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated energy levels, cognition, and mood with or without one or...
(to be specific, bipolar I disorder
Bipolar I disorder
Bipolar I disorder is a mood disorder that is characterized by at least one manic or mixed episode. There may be episodes of hypomania or major depression as well...
), people with cyclothymia are more often either somewhat or fully functioning, sometimes even hyper-productive.
Cyclothymia is similar to bipolar II disorder in that it presents itself in signature hypomanic episodes. Because hypomania is often associated with exceptionally creative, outgoing, and high-functioning behavior, both conditions are often undiagnosed. As with most of the disorders in the bipolar spectrum
Bipolar spectrum
The bipolar spectrum refers to a category of mood disorders that feature abnormally elevated or depressed mood. These disorders range from bipolar I disorder, featuring full-blown manic episodes, to cyclothymia, featuring less prominent hypomanic episodes, to "subsyndromal" conditions where only...
, it is the depressive phase that leads most sufferers to get help. The term derives from the Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
κύκλος (kuklos), "circle" + θυμός (thumos), "temper".
Differential diagnosis
This disorder is common in the relatives of patients with bipolar disorder, and some individuals with cyclothymia eventually develop bipolar disorder themselves. It may persist throughout adult life, cease temporarily or permanently, or develop into more severe mood swings, meeting the criteria for bipolar disorder or recurrent depressive disorder in rare cases.Symptoms
Dysthymic phaseSymptoms of the dysthymic phase include difficulty making decisions, problems concentrating, poor memory recall, guilt, self-criticism, low self-esteem, pessimism, self-destructive thinking, continuously feeling sad, apathy, hopelessness, helplessness, irritability, quick temper, poor judgment, lack of motivation, social withdrawal, appetite change, lack of sexual desire, self-neglect, fatigue, and insomnia.
Euphoric phase
Symptoms of the euphoric phase include unusually good mood or cheerfulness (euphoria
Euphoria (emotion)
Euphoria is medically recognized as a mental and emotional condition in which a person experiences intense feelings of well-being, elation, happiness, ecstasy, excitement and joy...
), extreme optimism, inflated self-esteem, rapid speech, racing thoughts
Racing thoughts
Racing thoughts refers to the rapid thought patterns that often occur in manic, hypomanic, or mixed episodes. While racing thoughts are most commonly described in people with bipolar disorder, they are also common with anxiety disorders, such as OCD...
, aggressive or hostile behavior, being inconsiderate of others, agitation, massively increased physical activity, risky behavior, spending sprees, increased drive to perform or achieve goals, increased sexual drive, decreased need for sleep, tendency to be easily distracted, and inability to concentrate.
Causes
There may be a genetic component to Cyclothymia. In one study, it was found that an individual is 2-3 times more likely to have the disorder if an identical twin is affected.Medications
- Anti-seizure medication/anticonvulsants (e.g., valproic acidValproic acidValproic acid is a chemical compound that has found clinical use as an anticonvulsant and mood-stabilizing drug, primarily in the treatment of epilepsy, bipolar disorder, and, less commonly, major depression. It is also used to treat migraine headaches and schizophrenia...
, divalproexValproate semisodiumValproate semisodium or divalproex sodium consists of a compound of sodium valproate and valproic acid in a 1:1 molar relationship in an enteric coated form. It is used in the United Kingdom, Canada, and United States for the treatment of the manic episodes of bipolar disorder...
, and lamotrigineLamotrigineLamotrigine, marketed in the US and most of Europe as Lamictal by GlaxoSmithKline, is an anticonvulsant drug used in the treatment of epilepsy and bipolar disorder. It is also used as an adjunct in treating depression, though this is considered off-label usage...
) are options. - Seroquel
- Klonopin
- Lithium
Therapy
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
- Interpersonal psychotherapyInterpersonal psychotherapyInterpersonal Psychotherapy is a time-limited psychotherapy that focuses on the interpersonal context and on building interpersonal skills. IPT is based on the belief that interpersonal factors may contribute heavily to psychological problems. It is commonly distinguished from other forms of...
(IT) - Group therapyGroup psychotherapyGroup psychotherapy or group therapy is a form of psychotherapy in which one or more therapists treat a small group of clients together as a group...
- Integrative therapy
- Psychodynamic Therapy
See also
- Dysthymia
- EuthymiaEuthymia (medicine)Euthymia is a word used for indicating a normal non-depressed, reasonably positive mood. It is distinguished from euphoria, which refers to an extreme of happiness, and dysthymia, which refers to a depressed mood...
- Ultradian Bipolar Disorder
- Bipolar disorderBipolar disorderBipolar disorder or bipolar affective disorder, historically known as manic–depressive disorder, is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated energy levels, cognition, and mood with or without one or...
- Bipolar I
- Bipolar II
- List of people believed to have been affected by bipolar disorder
- Bipolar spectrumBipolar spectrumThe bipolar spectrum refers to a category of mood disorders that feature abnormally elevated or depressed mood. These disorders range from bipolar I disorder, featuring full-blown manic episodes, to cyclothymia, featuring less prominent hypomanic episodes, to "subsyndromal" conditions where only...
- Emotional dysregulationEmotional dysregulationEmotional dysregulation is a term used in the mental health community to refer to an emotional response that is poorly modulated, and does not fall within the conventionally accepted range of emotive response...
- Creativity and bipolar disorderCreativity and bipolar disorderMental disorders and creativity are often considered to be related, particularly in pop psychology.There is anecdotal evidence for a relationship between creativity and psychosis, particularly schizophrenia. James Joyce had a daughter with schizophrenia and had many schizotypal traits. Albert...
- Mood (psychology)Mood (psychology)A mood is a relatively long lasting emotional state. Moods differ from emotions in that they are less specific, less intense, and less likely to be triggered by a particular stimulus or event....
External links
- Cyclothymia Symptoms from CounsellingResource.com
- Cyclothymia from Psycom.net
- Cyclothymia from McmanWeb
- What Is Cyclothymia? from Mental Health Matters
- Cyclothymia Workbook from All About Depression (Commercial Link)
- What Is Cyclothymia? from About.com
- A Sudden Shift in Moods from WashingtonPost.com