Cyclothymia - Symptom, Treatment for Cyclothymia
What is Cyclothymia ?
Cyclothymia is a chronic form of bipolar disorder. Cyclothymia disorder is characterized by mood swings from mania to depression.
In Cyclothymia the patient displays the characteristic ups and downs (depressions and euphorias) of Bipolar Disorder, to a much lower extent, to the point of not qualifying for a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder.
Cyclothymia is as equally common in men as women.
Causes, Symptom of Cyclothymia
Genetic factors appear to be causative in cyclothymia as they do in the Bipolar Disorders. Many affected paitents of cyclothymia have a family history of major depression, bipolar disorder, suicide or alcohol/drug dependence.
Symptom of Cyclothymia
A person with cyclothymia experiences symptoms of hypomania but never a full-blown hypomanic episode.
In order for cyclothymic to be diagnosed, hypomanic symptoms and depressive symptoms must be present alternately for at least two years.
Followings are some observed symptom of Cyclothymia -
- Abrupt changes in personality from cheerful, confident and energetic to sad, blue or "mean"
- Distractibility, can't concentrate well
- Needing little sleep
- Unrealistic beliefs in one's abilities and powers
- Poor judgment
- Spending sprees
- Sleep difficulties are prominent, with affected persons sleeping little during hypomania, and "unable to get out of bed" during depression.
- Zig-zagging from periods of elation to gloom
Evaluation or diagnosis of Cyclothymia
After the two-year period, if the client begins to display full depressive or manic symptoms, then a diagnosis of either Depression and Cyclothymia can be given or a diagnosis of either Bipolar I or Bipolar II and Cyclothymia can be given.
Treatment of Cyclothymia
There are two types of treatment of Cyclothymia: Medicall Treatment and Psychosocial Treatment.
MedicalTreatment:
Lithium, a mood stabilizer used commonly in the treatment of Bipolar Disorder, has been proven to help a substantial number of people with Cyclothymia.
Psychosocial Treatment - This type of treatment is very helpful in Cyclothymia.
If the mood swings are responses to small changes in the patient's physical or emotional environment, psychotherapy or environmental manipulation may be more helpful than medication in Cyclothymia.
If you like this page, please post it on:
|
