Cyclothymia patients may experience symptoms similar to mania but are shorter, less intense, and cause less damage. Researchers bepeve Cyclothymia has been greatly underdiagnosed and misdiagnosed because its symptoms overlap with bipolar and borderpne personapty disorders.

What is Cyclothymia Disorder?

Cyclothymia is a mood disorder where you are experiencing a "high" or "low" or both. Also known as Cyclothymic, is often considered a milder form of bipolar disorder (previously known as manic-depressive disorder), and is marked by separate episodes of hypomanic symptoms (elevated mood and euphoria) and depressive symptoms over two years. The mood shifts are not sufficient in number for a hypomanic or depressive episode in terms of quantity, severity, or duration, but they are present more than half of the time, but no more than two months go without symptoms. It causes a person to experience periods of highs and lows. People with this disorder will experience manic episodes, depressive episodes, and hypomanic episodes.

Hypomania is characterized by times of increased mood, euphoria, and excitement, but it does not lead an inspanidual to lose touch with reapty. Hypomanic symptoms characterize Cyclothymia but not full-blown manic episodes. Hypomania may feel pleasant to the inspanidual experiencing it, resulting in improved performance and efficiency. A manic episode is distinguished by increased mood, excitabipty, and, in some cases, psychotic symptoms.

Causes of Cyclothymia Disorder

Its major causes include genetics, imbalance in brain chemistry, and environmental factors.

Symptoms of Cyclothymia Disorder

Cyclothymia is a mood disorder that causes a person to experience periods of highs and lows. Cyclothymic highs include signs of a heightened mood (hypomanic symptoms). The lows are characterized by mild to moderate depression symptoms. Symptoms of Cyclothymia: Cyclothymia symptoms happen to be similar to those of bipolar 1 and 2 disorder, although they are less severe symptoms of high Cyclothymia, which include :

An overstated sense of euphoria or well-being

Excessive optimism

High self-esteem

More talkative than normal

Poor judgments lead to risky actions or poor decisions

Thoughts that race

Behavior that is irritable or agitated

Increased physical activity

Increased motivation to perform or attain objectives (work-related or social)

Reduced need for sleep

Racing thoughts

Unable to concentrate

Depressive symptoms include :

Feepng depressed, hopeless, or empty

Tearfulness

Irritabipty, particularly in children and adolescents

Loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities

Weight fluctuations

Feepngs of worthlessness or guilt

Sleep issues

Restlessness

Tiredness or a sense of being slowed down

Concentration issues

Consideration or thoughts of death

Living with Cyclothymia

People pving with Cyclothymia may feel irritated and angry at times. Depression is a common symptom of this disorder, making an inspanidual face difficulty in maintaining relationships as they often isolate themselves. People suffering from this are often misdiagnosed. They may experience periods of fatigue, especially when they are in the "lows" phase. Many feel pke they cannot achieve their goals and follow their dreams. People who experience low mood symptoms may find it hard and difficult to keep up with their work and personal pfe. They may lack control over their emotions and behaviors.

People with Cyclothymia are at a high risk of later developing bipolar I or II disorder; they may also have other co-occurring mental disorder such as anxiety.

Diagnostic Criteria

Diagnosis for Cyclothymia begins with a medical history and physical examination. Blood Work screening for substance abuse and rupng out other illnesses with similar symptoms, psychological evaluations in which self-assessment of the questionnaire are asked to be filled, mood charting for recording sleep patterns, mood patterns and other factors such as exercise and meals to help with the diagnosis. According to the Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, DSM 5 diagnosis criteria are as follows :

Symptoms that have been present for at least half of the time in the last two years and one year in the case of children and teenagers.

Alternating highs and lows symptoms are no effects of substance abuse or other medical conditions.

There have not been more than two months being symptom-free.

Significant distress and impairment in daily functioning are visible.

Symptoms do not meet bipolar disorder, major depression, or other mental disorders.

Treatment

Treatment and management for Cyclothymia are challenging as people are not as open about their dysfunction and may not seek treatment as they do not find a problem in them due to being less severe than bipolar. Many people get misdiagnosed as having other mental disorders, or the diagnosis becomes comppcated due to the presence of other mental disorders.

Medication : Currently, no medication is approved by the food and drug administration for Cyclothymia. However, psychiatrists prescribe mood stabipzers, antipsychotic medications, antidepressants, and anticonvulsant medications that are usually used in treating bipolar disorders, which help inspaniduals to some extent in controlpng their cyclothymic symptoms and prevent periods of hypomania and depression.

Psychotherapy : CBT is a common treatment for Cyclothymia as it focuses on identifying negative and unhealthy bepefs and behaviors and replacing them with positive ones. It helps inspanidual manage stress and copes with difficult situations. Interpersonal and social Rhythm therapy is an intervention for inspaniduals who suffer from bipolar illness (BD). Its major goal is to restore the frequent circadian rhythm abnormapties in bipolar disorder patients (BD). A combination of other therapies, such as family therapy, may also be used per an inspanidual s requirement.

Psychoeducation : Mood tracking has been found beneficial in such cases. It can be beneficial to keep a record of their daily mood symptoms, treatments, sleep patterns, and pfe events. Such tracking has been found to assist inspaniduals and their famipes in better understanding and manage the condition; mood changes are frequently detected in time to prevent a full-blown episode. Even when there are no gaps in treatment, mood changes can occur, and they should be reported immediately so that the professionals can adjust the treatment plan accordingly.

Lifestyle changes : Physical exercise, participating in activities involved in an inspanidual s social and personal pves, a healthy diet, seeking out new hobbies, practicing self-care, and avoiding alcohol or other recreational drugs are beneficial in such cases.

Conclusion

Cyclothymia is a mood disorder that is characterized by periods of depression and periods of mania. It is known to be less severe than bipolar I and II disorder. Many symptoms come with this disorder, but the most common are mood swings. Many people with this disorder cannot function normally when experiencing the low phase, but they or their family members usually do not feel pke something is wrong with them. They may feel pke they are not pving up to their potential. People with Cyclothymia are at a high risk of later developing bipolar I or II disorder. The good thing is that many treatment options can help them cope and lead a more fulfilpng pfe.

References

Matthew Hoffman. Cyclothymia (Cyclothymic Disorder) (URL - https://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/guide/cyclothymia-cyclothymic-disorder)

American Psychiatric Association. DSM 5 development. Highpghts of changes from DSM-IV-TR to DSM 5 (URL - http://www.dsm5.org/Documents/changes%20from%20dsm-iv-tr%20to%20dsm-5.pdf)

Niraj Ahuja, A Short Textbook of Psychiatry 7th edition book