Cyclothymia

The vast majority of people whom I interview at my hospital have some form of affective disorder. Most have some form of depression, whether it be a major depressive episode or a depressive 'spiral' of bipolar disorder.

On occasion, I will see someone who has cyclothymia, a milder form of bipolar disorder but problematic nonetheless to those who suffer from it. WaPo has a good article discussing the symptoms and treatment options - go here.

The American Psychiatric Association estimates that 2.2 million U.S. adults have cyclothymia, about half as many as those with bipolar disorder. But as bipolar disorders have gained visibility in the clinical community and popular culture, cyclothymia is being identified and treated more often.