cyclothymia

American  

[sahy-kluh-thahy-mee-uh, sik-luh-] / ˌsaɪ kləˈθaɪ mi ə, ˌsɪk lə- /

noun

Psychiatry.

1. a mild bipolar disorder characterized by instability of mood and a tendency to swing between mild euphorias and depressions.

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cyclothymia British  

/ ˌsɪk-, ˌsaɪkləʊˈθaɪmɪə /

noun

1. psychiatry a condition characterized by periodical swings of mood between excitement and depression, activity and inactivity See also manic-depressive

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Other Word Forms

• cyclothymic adjective

Etymology

Origin of cyclothymia

First recorded in 1920–25; cyclo- + -thymia

Compare meaning

How does cyclothymia compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• cyclothymia vs. dysthymia

Example Sentences

Symptoms of cyclothymia include periods of feeling low followed by periods of extreme happiness and excitement.

From BBC • Nov. 2, 2021

Matt Edmonson has shared details of the impact mental health condition, cyclothymia, has on his life.

From BBC • Nov. 2, 2021

It’s interesting that although I’m alone in this pandemic moment, right now it feels like half the world is suffering from cyclothymia.

From Slate • Dec. 9, 2020

What is cyclothymia, and how does it affect you?

From Slate • Dec. 9, 2020

We think of the bull-necked Henry the Eighth—"bluff King Hal"—as the choleric type, though here we also assume a certain cyclothymia, great good nature alternating with fierce anger.

From The Foundations of Personality by Myerson, Abraham