Cyclothymic disorder involves mood fluctuations lasting at least two years without meeting criteria for mania or major depressive episodes. True or False?

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only in elderly
• D. Always episodic

Answer: (A)

Cyclothymic disorder is a chronic mood disturbance on the bipolar spectrum. The defining feature is a long-standing pattern of mood changes that include numerous periods of hypomanic-like symptoms and numerous periods of depressive symptoms, but never meet the full criteria for mania or for a major depressive episode. This pattern must persist for at least two years in adults (one year in children/adolescents), with symptoms present most of the time and without long stretches symptom-free for more than a couple of months. The experience is more about ongoing fluctuation and subthreshold symptoms than discrete, fully syndromal episodes. So, stating that mood fluctuations last at least two years without meeting criteria for mania or major depressive episodes captures the essential nature of cyclothymia.