Treatment and Prevention
Medical options for treating cyclothymia include psychotherapy and medications. Medications for cyclothymia include lithium*, a mood stabilizer that is also used in the treatment of bipolar disorder. Lithium can reduce the frequency of mood cycling and keep moods on a more even keel. Other medication options include antipsychotic medications and certain antiseizure medications, which are used for mood stabilizing effects.
Because symptoms can be mild, it is possible that cyclothymia might never be diagnosed. It is also possible that it does not necessarily require treatment. In fact, a degree of hypomania may be responsible for a person's success in life, be it business or leadership drive or other achievements.
However, for those who have a family history of bipolar disorder or who are at risk for a depressive episode, the symptoms may hit them hard and have drastic consequences. In such cases, awareness of cyclothymic and bipolar disorders, coupled with medical monitoring, can help prepare the individual for these episodes and ensure they get prompt and effective treatment.
*All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®). The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen). A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article lists medications by their common names. For more information on brand names, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.
Paul Ballas, DO, Attending Psychiatrist, Friends Hospital, Philadelphia PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.