Dysthymia and cyclothymia are two versions of mood disorders with similar features making it difficult for individuals to understand which one they might have. Thus, understanding the detailed comparison of dysthymia vs cyclothymia can help. Read along to know more!
Dysthymia, is a continuous, long-lasting (chronic) form of depression also known as persistent depressive disorder. You could become unproductive, hopeless, and disinterested in your day to day activities. Also you will have low self-esteem and feel insufficient. Your relationships, employment, studies, and daily activities may be greatly hampered by these symptoms, which stays for years.
Their current state of depression may be mild, moderate, or severe, even though the persistent depressive disorder is not something serious as major depression.
Cyclothymia, commonly known as a cyclothymic disorder, is a rare mental illness. While emotional ups and downs are present in cyclothymia, they are not as severe as in bipolar I or II disorders.
When you have cyclothymia, you go through times when your mood noticeably changes from its baseline. For example, you might experience periods of feeling on top of the world and then a slump in which you feel slightly down. On the other hand, you might feel stable and okay in between these cyclothymic highs and lows.
Although cyclothymia's highs and lows are less intense than those of bipolar disorders, it's still important to get support for managing these symptoms. It is because they can impair your capacity to function and raise your risk of developing bipolar I or II disorder.
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Parameters |
Cyclothymia |
Dysthymia |
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Meaning |
People suffering from this have alternate episodes of depression, euphoria, or elevated moods. |
People suffering from this only have episodes of mild depression. |
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Symptoms |
Individuals suffering from cyclothymia experience either hypomanic or depressive symptoms. |
The symptoms of dysthymia include hopelessness, sleeping problems, tiredness, lack of energy and many more. |
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Cause |
The causes of Cyclothymia can be positive family history and genetics. |
The causes of dysthymia are positive family history, genetics, chronic stress, poor coping facilities, and abnormal brain functioning. |
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Treatment Methods |
The treatment method for this involves antidepressants and antipsychotics. |
The treatment method for this will include drug therapy along with psychotherapy. |
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Prognosis |
Over the course of time, individuals suffering from cyclothymia have increased risks of developing bipolar disorder. |
Patients suffering from dysthymia have increased chances of developing chronic depression. |
The symptoms of cyclothymia are comparable to those of bipolar I or II disorder but are less severe. Cyclothymia normally does not impair one's ability to carry out daily tasks. However, sometimes it may. In addition, your mood swings may considerably disrupt your life because you can never foresee how they will make you feel. Moreover, you may feel two mood elevations in cyclothymia- highs and lows.
The symptoms and warning signs of cyclothymia include:
The symptoms of dysthymia are:
It is essential to know the causes behind cyclothymia and dysthymia so that when one gets diagnosed with it, they have a clear understanding of how it started. Therefore, given below are the details regarding the causes of both:
What mainly causes cyclothymia is unknown. Research indicates that, like many mental health illnesses, it could be brought on by a confluence of the following:
The exact reason for what causes dysthymia is unknown. However, it can involve many causes:
Cyclothymia risk factors are often confused with the risk factors of depression. As a result, individuals might even receive the wrong treatment for Cyclothymia, as medical professionals often treat it as depression. So, knowing the differences between cyclothymia and dysthymia will help you choose the right treatment method at the right time.
Contrary to dysthymia, cyclothymia is considered relatively uncommon. This is because one might not receive the actual treatment as some patients may go undetected or receive the incorrect diagnosis of another mental disorder like depression. However, the factors that increase risks are:
Dysthymia is a disorder that often begins early. It can happen in childhood, during young adult life, or in the teen years. Moreover, this disease is chronic, and certain factors can aggravate the risk of triggering or developing the persistent depressive disorder. The factors are mentioned below:
Apart from knowing the risk factors, causes and symptoms of cyclothymia and dysthymia, you should also be aware of the treatment methods. Here are the necessary details:
The treatment of cyclothymia includes:
Medication and conversation therapy are the two basic therapies for persistent depressive illness.
Inform your physician or pharmacist of any potential adverse effects.
When it comes to Dysthymia, it is wise to see a doctor if the symptoms persist for more than two weeks. As discussed earlier, if your symptoms include depression and a negative attitude for over two weeks, you might be suffering from this condition. It is advisable to see the doctor within this time.
In the case of Cyclothymia, the window is much longer. Here, people suffer from mild depression and hypomania for about two years. It can slowly turn into bipolar disorder if left untreated. Thus, it is advisable to see a doctor if you feel rapid swings in your mood or any other symptoms of Cyclothymia.
Unfortunately, medical researchers are yet to come up with ways and means to prevent Dysthymia and Cyclothymia. However, the following tips will help you manage these conditions and lead a healthy life even while suffering from these.
To conclude, this is all one needs to know about dysthymia vs cyclothymia. Mental health is still an issue that goes unnoticed by several individuals. Ignoring the symptoms of degrading mental health causes serious problems later. So, if you notice anything, seek professional help instead of shying away.
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Disclaimer #2: This information is added only for informative purposes and collected from different sources across the Internet. Digit Insurance is not promoting or recommending anything here. Please verify the information before making any decisions.
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