Cyclothymia

Cyclothymia is characterized by persistent instability of mood and involves symptoms of depression and elation, which are insufficient in severity and pervasiveness to meet the full criteria of either manic or depressive episodes.

It has to be mentioned that you will not find cyclothymia in every book dealing with depression. But we want to follow the logic of DSM-IV.

The symptoms pursue a chronic course for at least 2 years with or without normothymic intervals, which if present, should not exceed the 2-month duration. During the periods of depression, in addition to depressed mood, at least three of the ICD-10 symptoms for depressive episode should be present. Mood swings as a rule start in late teenage.

Cyclothymia is not easily recognizable and if it does not develop to a major mood psychopathology, especially bipolar disorder, usually does not attract
medical attention. However, it does impair social and occupational functioning to a degree that depends on the intensity and the rate of change of the symptoms in each particular individual.

Cyclothymia is not clinically distinguished from cycloid or cyclothymic personality disorders. When mood instability pervades the whole of personal behavior, the ensuing chaotic life style closely resembles the clinical presentation of a borderline personality disorder.

Cyclothymia, as a distinct entity separate from major depression, does not correspond to Schneider’s concept, which was synonymous to bipolar disorder. The current concept, although still ill-defined, brings it closer to a subaffective chronic state of mood fluctuations that is linked to personality disorders.

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