Cyclothymia

Cyclothymia is a form of bipolar disorder that many people haven't heard of. Here is a brief but comprehensive definition of cyclothymic disorder, also known (incorrectly) as cyclothymia disorder and bipolar cyclothymia.

There are six check-points a doctor will review for diagnosing cyclothymic disorder as per the criteria found in the DSM-IV. What sets cyclothymic disorder apart from the other types of bipolar disorder is that your symptoms last for months or even years without letting up. And yet, these symptoms aren’t quite severe enough to be called a manic...

According to the official US definition as outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association, Cyclothymic Disorder - also called Cyclothymia - is "a chronic, fluctuating mood disturbance involving numerous periods of hypomanic symptoms and numerous periods of depressive symptoms."

A concise definition from The Bipolar Disorder Glossary.

Cyclothymia, or cyclothymic disorder, is a chronic mood disorder that results in short periods of mild emotional and behavioral "highs" alternating with short periods of mild to moderate depression. People with cyclothymia also experience intermittent periods of emotional and behavioral stability.

John McManamy notes that while descriptions portray cyclothymia as a mild disorder, it is so only relative to the severity of Bipolar I and Bipolar II disorders. Cyclothymia can completely disrupt the life of an individual and create personal chaos. In their continual oscillation of mood, they never know from one day to the next what to expect.

This site offers a compilation of information on this disorder, including both American and European descriptions, from Internet Mental Health.