Cyclothymia is a psychological disorder that causes hypomanic symptoms, that is, a variation between mood or irritation, in addition to depressive symptoms, and can be considered a precursor to bipolar II disorder.
The cause of cyclothymia, also called cyclothymic disorder, is not entirely clear, however it is believed that changes in neurotransmitters, traumatic experience and genetics may be involved in the development of this disorder, occurring in men and women alike. The diagnosis must be made by a psychiatrist or psychologist based on the person’s behavior in recent months.
Treatment is carried out through psychotherapy sessions and the use of medications that may be recommended by a psychiatrist in some cases and which aim to control hypomanic and depressive symptoms, such as mood stabilizers.
Main symptoms
The main symptoms of cyclothymia are:
- Chronic change in mood;
- Periods of agitation and euphoria followed by bad mood and sadness, or vice versa;
- Accelerated thinking;
- Indisposition;
- Lack of sleep or excessive sleep;
- Greater or lesser energy;
- Denial that something is wrong;
- Decreased appetite.
Because this variation in symptoms is most often considered part of the person’s personality, the diagnosis of cyclothymia is not made, which can result in great psychological distress for the person, as they experience large fluctuations in mood.
How the diagnosis is made
The diagnosis of cyclothymia must be made by a psychologist or psychiatrist by evaluating the signs and symptoms presented by the person and reported during psychotherapy sessions. During the sessions, in addition to evaluating mood swings, the psychologist also checks the severity of these symptoms and the impact they have on the person’s life.
Although it is not often related to major harm to the person’s life, cyclothymia can lead to great emotional distress and, in these cases, it may be necessary to use medication to stabilize the person’s mood, which should be recommended by the psychiatrist.
Furthermore, during psychotherapy sessions, the psychologist carries out the differential diagnosis between cyclothymia and bipolar disorder, since they are similar conditions. However, in bipolar disorder, mood variations lead to the emergence of more serious symptoms, i.e. the person feels moments of euphoria and moments of depression more intensely. See how to identify bipolar disorder.
Treatment for cyclothymia
Cyclothymia can only be treated with psychotherapy sessions, using cognitive-behavioral or interpersonal techniques, with the aim of controlling symptoms, avoiding new cycles of the disorder, improving negative thoughts and improving the person’s social relationships.
However, in some cases it may also be necessary to use medications, which must be indicated by the psychiatrist, and the use of antipsychotic medications, such as Zuclopenthixol or Aripiprazole, anxiolytics, such as Alprazolam or Clobazam, or mood stabilizers, such as carbonate, may also be recommended. of lithium.
In addition, it is also recommended that the patient has a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet and good sleeping habits to reduce stress levels and better control cyclothymic disorder.
