What is the length of cyclothymia?

Patients diagnosed as cyclothymic experienced brief hypomanic periods (lasting fewer than four days) and brief mild depressive periods (lasting fewer than two weeks). Within a day, mood alterations from feeling high to feeling low are common. This mood pattern is persistent for two years or more.

How long can cyclothymia last?

Cyclothymia requires lifelong treatment — even during periods when you feel better — usually guided by a mental health provider skilled in treating the condition.

How long do mood swings last in cyclothymia?

Mood swings will be fairly frequent – you will not go for longer than 2 months without experiencing low mood or an emotional high.

What is a Cyclothymic episode?

Cyclothymia (sy-kloe-THIE-me-uh), also called cyclothymic disorder, is a rare mood disorder. Cyclothymia causes emotional ups and downs, but they're not as extreme as those in bipolar I or II disorder. With cyclothymia, you experience periods when your mood noticeably shifts up and down from your baseline.

What are the patterns of cyclothymia?

Cyclothymia is a disorder characterized by numerous periods of elevated or irritable mood, alternating with mild depression. Mood swings generally last a few days and do not follow a regular pattern. Cyclothymia is related to bipolar disorder.

What is Cyclothymia?

How long do cyclothymic disorder episodes last?

People with cyclothymic experience episodes of hypomania and mild depression for at least two years. These changes in mood can occur quickly and at any time. A person with cyclothymia may have brief periods of normal mood (euthymia), but these periods last fewer than eight weeks.

Who is most likely to cyclothymia?

It is estimated that the rate of occurrence of cyclothymia in the general population is between 0.4% to 1%. It affects men and women at the same rates. Women, however, are more likely to seek treatment. While typical onset of the disorder occurs during adolescence, its onset is consistently hard to identify.

Is cyclothymia a serious mental illness?

Cyclothymia -- or cyclothymic disorder -- is a relatively mild mood disorder. In cyclothymic disorder, moods swing between short periods of mild depression and hypomania, an elevated mood. The low and high mood swings never reach the severity or duration of major depressive or full mania episodes.

How often does cyclothymia turn into bipolar?

It's unclear exactly what determines who will develop bipolar disorder and who will not, but it's thought that between 15 percent and 50 percent of people with cyclothymic disorder will go on to develop bipolar disorder.

Can you live a normal life with cyclothymia?

Someone with cyclothymic disorder can generally function normally but have some challenges because of the mood shifts.

Is cyclothymia worse than bipolar?

The highs and lows of cyclothymia are less extreme and less severe than those of bipolar disorder, but they can interfere with your ability to function and increase your risk of developing bipolar I or II disorder, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Is cyclothymia chronic?

The essential characteristic of cyclothymia is a chronic, pervasive, fluctuating mood disturbance. These fluctuations are described as periods of distinguishable depressive and elevated episodes.

Can cyclothymia turn into BPD?

Cyclothymia and borderline personality (BPD): Some research shows that cyclothymia is more common in individuals with borderline personality than in those with other personality disorders. According the the DSM-5, these conditions can co-occur when the diagnostic criteria for both are met.

What happens if cyclothymia goes untreated?

Untreated cyclothymia can turn into bipolar disorder. Cyclothymia, or cyclothymic disorder, is a rare condition that causes mood swings. Doctors consider it a milder form of bipolar disorder, meaning the highs and lows aren't as extreme.

How does cyclothymia affect the brain?

Patients diagnosed as cyclothymic experienced brief hypomanic periods (lasting fewer than four days) and brief mild depressive periods (lasting fewer than two weeks). Within a day, mood alterations from feeling high to feeling low are common. This mood pattern is persistent for two years or more.

Can you get disability for cyclothymia?

Yes, bipolar disorder is a disability according to the Social Security Administration (SSA). Whether you have bipolar I, bipolar II, or cyclothymia (cyclothymic disorder), it can qualify if it leaves you unable to work.

What is the usual age of onset for cyclothymic disorders?

The DSM-5 notes that the typical onset of Cyclothymic Disorder is in adolescence or early adulthood, though it can appear in children (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

What famous people have cyclothymia?

Charlene Soraia, British singer-songwriter, musician has cyclothymia. Britney Spears, American singer, songwriter, and dancer. Phil Spector, American record producer. Alonzo Spellman, American football player.

How do you recover from cyclothymia?

The main treatments for cyclothymia are medications and psychotherapy. While no medications are specifically approved for the treatment of cyclothymia, there are some that can be used effectively, when managed by a professional provider: Anti-anxiety medications such as benzodiazepines. Mood stabilizers such as lithium.

Does cyclothymia affect sleep?

A large-scale web-based survey indicated that “cyclothymic temperament” has been associated with prolonged sleep latency, later sleep schedule, frequent nighttime awakenings, poor sleep quality, and high rates of daily and occasional use of sleep medications (Ottoni, Lorenzi, & Lara, 2011).

Is cyclothymia related to ADHD?

Conclusions: ADHD and cyclothymia often co-occur and show similar levels of emotional dysregulation. However, cyclothymic patients may be more prone to negative emotionality in clinical settings. Subjects with “sunny” cyclothymic features might escape the attention of clinicians unless ADHD is present.

How do you live with someone with cyclothymia?

Remind your loved one to keep working with a doctor to find the right treatment. If you notice changes in mood swings or the person finds that symptoms do not ease up, talk about setting up an appointment. Keep healthy habits in mind. Talk about the importance of getting good sleep, exercising, and eating well.

Is cyclothymia rapid cycling?

My variety of cyclothymia is the rapid cycling form, which means that my depressed and hypomanic cycles can happen much faster than the those with the “traditional” form of a mood cycling disorder.