Cyclothymia (cyclothymic disorder)

Mayo Clinic Health Manager

Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.

Get Started

Free

E-Newsletter

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

  • Housecall
  • Alzheimer's caregiving
  • Living with cancer

Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

Cyclothymia, also called cyclothymic disorder, is a mild form of bipolar disorder. Like bipolar disorder, cyclothymia is a chronic mood disorder that causes emotional ups and downs.

With cyclothymia, you have short periods of emotional highs when you feel on top of the world, followed by lows that may leave you feeling hopeless and suicidal. And in between these cyclothymic highs and lows, you may have times when your mood is stable and you feel fine.

What sets cyclothymia apart from bipolar disorder is the reduced intensity of the highs and lows. Although these mood swings may bother you immensely, they're very difficult to try to manage on your own. The main treatment options for cyclothymia are medications and psychotherapy. Certain alternative medicine options also may be helpful.

DS00729

April 18, 2008

© 1998-2009 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Reliable tools for healthier lives," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Print Share Reprints

Text Size: smaller largerlarger