Cyclothymia (), also called cyclothymic disorder, is a type of chronic mood disorder widely considered to be a more chronic but milder or subthreshold form of bipolar disorder. Cyclothymia is characterized by numerous mood swings, with periods of hypomanic symptoms that do not meet criteria for a manic episode, alternating with periods of mild or moderate symptoms of depression that do not meet criteria for a major depressive episode.
An individual with cyclothymia may feel stable at a baseline level but experience a noticeable shift to an emotional high during subthreshold hypomanic episodes of elation or euphoria, with symptoms similar to those of mania but less severe, and often cycle to emotional lows with moderate depressive symptoms. To meet the diagnostic criteria for cyclothymia, a person must experience this alternating pattern of emotional highs and lows for a period of at least two years with no more than two consecutive symptom-free months. For children and adolescents, the duration must be at least one year.
While diagnosis of cyclothymia is becoming more common, it is not as frequent as that of bipolar disorder. Diagnosis of cyclothymia entails the absence of any major depressive episode, manic episode or mixed episode, which would qualify the individual for diagnosis of other mood disorders. When a major episode manifests after an initial diagnosis of cyclothymia, the individual may qualify for a diagnosis of bipolar I or bipolar II disorder. Although estimates vary greatly, 15-50% of cases of cyclothymia later advance to the diagnostic criteria for bipolar I and/or bipolar II disorder (with cyclothymic features). Although the emotional highs and lows of cyclothymia are less extreme than those of bipolar disorder, the symptomatology, longitudinal course, family history and treatment response of cyclothymia are consistent with bipolar spectrum.
Lifetime prevalence of cyclothymic disorder is 0.4-1%. Frequency appears similar in men and women, though women more often seek treatment. People with cyclothymia during periodic hypomania (euphoria) tend to feel an inflated self-worth, self-confidence and elation, often with rapid speech, racing thoughts, not much need to sleep, increased aggression and impulsive behavior, showing little regard for consequences of decisions--but may sometimes be somewhat, fully or hyper-productive for a period of several days at a time.
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Symptoms
Cyclothymia is characterized by short cycles of baseline, stable periods of not over two months and numerous swings between depression and hypomania that fail to meet the severity of sustained duration criterion for major affective syndromes for at least two years.
Depressive/dysthymic episodes. Symptoms of the depressive/dysthymic phase may include any of the following conditions:difficulty making decisions, problems concentrating, poor memory recall, guilt, self-criticism, low self-esteem, pessimism, self-destructive thinking, constant sadness, apathy, hopelessness, helplessness and irritability. Also common are quick temper, poor judgment, lack of motivation, social withdrawal, appetite change, lack of sexual desire, self-neglect, fatigue, insomnia and sleepiness.
Hypomanic episodes. Symptoms of the hypomanic episode may include any of the following conditions: unusually good mood or cheerfulness (euphoria), extreme optimism, inflated self-esteem, rapid speech, racing thoughts, aggressive or hostile behavior, lack of consideration for 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
The exact cause of cyclothymia is unknown. It is known that major depression, bipolar disorder, and cyclothymia often occur together within families. 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.
Diagnosis
The following are the revised criteria for a diagnosis of cyclothymic disorder (DSM-IV-TR 301.13) from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR):
- A. For at least 2 years (1 year in children and adolescents), the presence of numerous periods with hypomanic symptoms and numerous periods with depressive symptoms that do not meet criteria for a Major Depressive Episode
- B. During the above period, the person has not been without the symptoms in A for more than 2 months in the 2-year period
- C. No Major Depressive Episode, Manic Episode, or Mixed Episode has been present during the first 2 years of the disturbance.
- D. The symptoms in Criterion A are not better accounted for by Schizoaffective Disorder and are not superimposed on Schizophrenia, Schizophreniform Disorder, Delusional Disorder, or Psychotic Disorder Not Otherwise Specified.
- E. The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g. drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism).
- F. The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
The DSM-IV-TR notes that the mood disturbance must be not severe enough to constitute a full-fledged manic or major depressive episode. The diagnosis requires that there be periods of both hypomania and depression and that periods of normal mood not last longer than 2 months.
The DSM-IV-TR also notes that Cyclothymia and borderline personality disorder share similar features and that individuals can be diagnosed with both BPD and Cyclothymia depending on the symptoms they present.
Differential diagnosis
Diagnosis of cyclothymia is difficult for a number of reasons. The depressive-dysthymic episode of cyclothymia is also a diagnostic feature of many disorders, including adjustment disorders, personality disorders, psychotic disorders, and other mood disorders. Since depression can be triggered or exacerbated by life events and circumstances, the diagnosing clinician must determine when it is an acceptable response and when it is pathological.
Symptoms described in the hypomanic episode are also commonly associated with ADHD, such as increased energy, distractibility and impulsive or risk-seeking behavior. This is of particular concern in child psychiatry because symptoms, especially hyperactivity, may be counted twice toward both disorders or may inflate the prevalence of ADHD. While childhood ADHD often presents with hyperactivity, adult ADHD often does not. The unstable lifestyle often found both in people with ADHD and in those with cyclothymia can cause problems for differential diagnosis. Important distinguishing factors include that ADHD is characterized mainly by problems with concentration and memory, while cyclothymia mainly by periods of elevated self-confidence and elation.
Whether subtypes of bipolar disorder, such as cyclothymia truly represent separate disorders or are part of a unique bipolar spectrum is still debated in research. Cyclothymia is typically not described in research studies or diagnosed in clinical settings, making it less recognizable and less understood by professionals. This absence of cyclothymia in research and clinical settings suggests that cyclothymia is either being diagnosed as another mood disorder or as a non-affective psychiatric disorder or not coming to scientific or clinical attention due to a lack of diagnostic clarity or because the nature of cyclothymia is still highly contested. Additionally, the current diagnostic criterion for cyclothymia emphasizes that symptoms are persistent, which suggests that they are enduring traits rather than a psychological state, thus, it has been argued that it should be diagnosed as a personality disorder. Since the symptoms tend to overlap with personality disorders, the validity and distinction between these two diagnostic categories has been debated.
Lastly, the tendency of cyclothymia to be comorbid with other psychiatric disorders makes diagnosis difficult. These issues prevent consensus on the definition of cyclothymia and its relationship with other psychiatric disorders among researchers and clinicians. This lack of consensus on an operational definition and symptom presentation is especially pronounced with children and adolescents because the diagnostic criteria have not been adequately adapted to take into account their developmental level. However, there has been a shift from categorical models of bipolar related disorders toward a dimensional model, which is intended to address some of these issues.
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 some cases.
Management
Medications and somatic treatments
The use of lithium and quetiapine (Seroquel) have both shown to be particularly valuable, though several other medications of the anticonvulsants and atypical antipsychotics classes may also be helpful. The use of anti-depressants as monotherapy typically worsens cyclothymia and can induce mood switching, cycle acceleration, mixed states and prolonged treatment resistance.
- Lithium - Lithium has been shown to help stabilize the mood of patients suffering from cyclothymia and as well as bipolar disorders. It also aids in the prevention of acute suicidal and manic episodes. Dosage must be carefully monitored as lithium has a plethora of side effects.
- Atypical antipsychotics - (e.g., quetiapine (Seroquel), also olanzapine (Zyprexa), and risperidone (Risperdal).
- Anticonvulsants - (e.g., valproic acid, lamotrigine (Lamictal), and valproate semisodium (Depakote)).
- Electroconvulsive therapy - Through a systematic review done by Versiani, Cheriaux, and Landeira-Fernandez, it was determined that the efficacy and safety of ECT in patients with bipolar disorder had been poorly investigated and the evidence had methodological limitations.
Therapy
There are few studies specifically testing psychotherapy for cyclothymia. The following is a list of some common types of therapy. They have different amounts of support for use with bipolar disorder and other mood disorders. If a treatment helps with bipolar disorder, it is a reasonable choice for use with cyclothymia until better evidence becomes available.
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) - Has been found to reduce depression.
- Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)
- Interpersonal psychotherapy (IT)
- Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT)
- Group therapy
- Integrative therapy
- Person-centered therapy (PCT)
- Psychodynamic therapy
Etymology
Cyclothymia is derived from the Greek word ?????????? (from ?????? kyklos, "circle" and ????? thymos, "mood, emotion"). Therefore, it means "to cycle or circle between moods or emotions".
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