What is the difference between bipolar disorder and cyclothymia?
The difference between the two is a matter of degree. Cyclothymia is a milder version of bipolar disorder. There are no sharp lines dividing the different categories of mood disorders. These labels are a starting point for understanding a person’s problem. When trying to diagnose a person, mental health professionals consider a short list of probable or possible problems. This creates a framework for treatment. Refining the diagnosis is a gradual process. As the patient and doctor learn more about the problem, they modify the treatment based on what helps and what doesn’t. Here are short definitions for bipolar disorder and cyclothymia: Bipolar Disorder Doctors make this diagnosis if a person has had at least one manic or mixed episode. This is a period (of at least one week) when the person is in a high, expansive, or elated mood. People with bipolar disorder often also have episodes of depression. Sometimes these are severe enough to be called “major depression.” Think of a manic epi
