Mental health self-assessment · Mood & depression
Cyclothymia Test: Understand your recurring highs and lows.
Do your mood and energy keep swinging between milder highs and lows? Explore 15 questions about ongoing mood patterns, then learn how cyclothymic disorder is assessed and treated.
For self-reflection only, not a medical diagnosis. If you are thinking about suicide, call or text 988 (US) or visit findahelpline.com.
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THE SELF-CHECK15 focused questionsReflect on your highs and lows across the past two years.
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PRIVACY FIRSTNo account neededFree to take, with no sign-up. Your result appears right away.
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CLEAR BOUNDARIESInformation, not a diagnosisLearn what your answers can and cannot tell you.
The self-check
Take the cyclothymia test
Explore your highs and lows over time. Think about your usual pattern over the past two years, not just a recent good or bad week. This self-check is written for adults. There are no right answers. It can support reflection, not diagnose cyclothymia or bipolar disorder.
Your score
What the bands mean
- 0–15 Low — few signs of recurring highs and lows
- 16–30 Mild — some signs of recurring highs and lows
- 31–45 Moderate — frequent signs of recurring highs and lows
- 46–60 High — very frequent signs of recurring highs and lows
Each answer scores 0 (Never) to 4 (Almost always), for a total of 0–60. Bands describe how often you reported these experiences. They are not clinical cutoffs.
The minimum span for adults, not a diagnosis by itself.
The short answer
What is cyclothymia (cyclothymic disorder)?
Cyclothymia, or cyclothymic disorder, is a long-term mood condition in which milder highs (hypomanic symptoms) and milder lows (depressive symptoms) come and go for at least two years in adults. The highs never reach a full hypomanic or manic episode, and the lows never reach a major depressive episode.
MedlinePlus describes cyclothymia as a mild form of bipolar disorder, and clinical references list it with bipolar I and bipolar II disorder. The shifts are often easy to miss. A high spell can feel like being productive and confident rather than unwell, and a low spell can pass for ordinary tiredness. Some people function well, or even thrive, during high spells. Over the years, though, the swings can affect work, study, relationships and how you see yourself, and can lead to an uneven work or school history, frequent moves, repeated breakups, and episodes of alcohol or drug misuse.
Milder does not mean minor. Cyclothymia can come before bipolar I or II disorder in some people, and it can be treated.
Less than 1% to 2.5% of people are estimated to have cyclothymic disorder at some point in their lives, according to the Merck Manual’s summary of DSM-5-TR data. It appears to occur at similar rates in women and men. This is a population estimate, not a way to judge an individual’s symptoms.
View sourceKnow the signs
What does cyclothymia feel like?
Cyclothymia has two sides, so each card below pairs a high-side change with a low-side one. These are the same kinds of change seen in hypomania and depression, but in cyclothymia they are milder or shorter. The Merck Manual’s patient guide notes that the high and low spells typically last only a few days and come back fairly often, at irregular intervals.
Mood that lifts and dips
High: Feeling more cheerful, upbeat or “on” than your usual self, or more irritable and touchy than usual. Low: Feeling down, sad, empty or flat, sometimes without an obvious reason.
Energy that rises and falls
High: Being busier, more talkative or more sociable, and starting more plans and projects than usual. Low: Having less energy and less interest in your usual activities, so everyday tasks feel heavy.
Sleep that shifts
High: Sleeping less than usual without feeling tired the next day. Low: Trouble falling asleep, waking too early, or sleeping much more than usual.
Thinking speed and focus
High: Thoughts that jump quickly from one idea to the next, or finding yourself easily distracted. Low: Finding it hard to focus, think clearly or make everyday decisions.
Confidence that swings
High: Feeling more confident, important or talented than usual. Low: Feeling hopeless or worthless, or doubting that things will work out.
Choices and pace
High: Spending, commitments or other decisions that seem less wise once the high spell has passed. Low: Feeling slowed down in body or speech, or restless and unable to settle.
Cyclothymia vs. bipolar disorder vs. dysthymia
All four involve changes in mood. A clinician can assess which, if any, describes your experience.
| Feature | Cyclothymic disorder | Bipolar II disorder | Bipolar I disorder | Dysthymia (PDD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highs | Hypomanic-type symptoms that never meet the criteria for a hypomanic episode. | At least one hypomanic episode (4 days or more), with no manic episodes. | At least one manic episode (1 week or more, or shorter if hospital care is needed). | No highs. A history of mania or hypomania rules it out. |
| Lows | Depressive symptoms that never meet the criteria for a major depressive episode. | At least one major depressive episode. | Depressive episodes occur in most people but are not required. | Depressed mood on most days, plus at least two other symptoms. |
| Time frame | At least 2 years in adults (1 year in children and teens), with symptoms at least half the time and no gap longer than 2 months. | Diagnosed from the episodes themselves, with no two-year rule. | Diagnosed from the episodes themselves, with no two-year rule. | At least 2 years in adults (1 year in children and teens), with no gap longer than 2 months. |
| Pattern | Frequent, irregular shifts between milder highs and lows. | Distinct episodes of hypomania and depression. | Distinct manic episodes, often with depressive episodes. | A long-lasting low mood without highs. |
| PsyMed self-check | This test | Bipolar Test | Bipolar Test | Dysthymia Test |
What clinicians look for
How is cyclothymic disorder diagnosed?
Diagnosis is based on your mood history, not an online score. A doctor or mental health professional uses the DSM-5-TR criteria and looks at several pieces of the picture.
- 01 Duration
Highs and lows over time
Many periods of hypomanic symptoms and many periods of depressive symptoms over at least two years in adults, or one year in children and teens. Symptoms are present at least half of that time.
- 02 Threshold
Below a full episode
The symptoms have never met the criteria for a hypomanic, manic or major depressive episode. If they have, a clinician looks at other diagnoses, such as bipolar I or II disorder.
- 03 Clinical context
Impact and other causes
The symptoms affect daily functioning. They are not better explained by another mental health condition, a substance or a medical problem such as an overactive thyroid. A provider may order blood and urine tests to check.
People often seek help only when they feel low, and milder highs can go unnoticed. The NICE guideline on bipolar disorder advises clinicians to ask adults with depression about past periods of overactivity or disinhibited behavior. Telling your clinician about high spells as well as low ones helps them see the whole pattern. This page cannot confirm or rule out cyclothymia.
Understanding the context
What causes cyclothymia?
The causes of cyclothymic disorder are unknown. Family history and temperament appear to play a part, and mood swings can also come from other sources that a clinician rules out first. An overactive thyroid, other medical conditions, alcohol, drugs and some medicines can cause mood changes, and a diagnosis of cyclothymia is made only when these do not explain the symptoms.
Family history
Major depression, bipolar disorder and cyclothymia often occur together in families, which suggests these mood disorders share similar causes. Family history does not decide your future.
An early start
Cyclothymia usually begins early in life. Researchers describe a cyclothymic temperament that is often present from childhood or adolescence, even if clear symptoms appear later.
Stress and life events
Stressful life events may bring symptoms to the surface at any age. In bipolar disorder, research suggests people with a genetic risk may be more likely to develop the condition after trauma or other major stress.
Evidence-based care
Can cyclothymia be treated?
Yes. Treatment usually starts with learning about the condition and getting support. Some people also take medication, especially when the mood swings make daily life hard. A clinician can help you weigh the options.
- 01 / EDUCATION AND SUPPORT
Psychoeducation and support groups
Learning how your highs and lows work, and how to live with them, is the main part of care. Cyclothymia researchers recommend starting this early, and group programs designed for cyclothymia exist. Support groups give people a place to share experiences.
- 02 / TALK THERAPY
Talk therapy and daily rhythms
Talk therapy is one treatment option for cyclothymia. For bipolar disorder, NIMH describes interpersonal and social rhythm therapy, family-focused therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as helpful alongside medication. A steady routine for sleep, meals and exercise is also recommended.
- 03 / MEDICAL CARE
Medication when appropriate
A prescriber may suggest a mood stabilizer, such as lithium or an antiseizure medicine. Evidence that these medicines help in cyclothymia is anecdotal, and doses are generally lower than for bipolar disorder. Antidepressants are generally kept for severe, long-lasting low spells, with close monitoring, because they can trigger switching or rapid cycling.
Clinical guidance: Merck Manual Professional Version, Cyclothymic Disorder. Do not start or stop medication based on an online result.
Practical next steps
What should you do if your mood keeps swinging?
You can ask for support without waiting for two years or a high test score.
- 01
Book a conversation
Tell a primary care doctor or licensed mental health professional about both your high and low spells, how long the pattern has gone on, and how it affects your everyday life.
- 02
Keep a mood chart
For a few weeks, note your mood, sleep, energy, spending and any alcohol, drugs or medicines. A life chart or mood journal can help you and your clinician recognize the swings.
- 03
Ask about assessment and treatment
Ask whether any tests are needed to rule out physical causes, and discuss education, talk therapy and, where appropriate, medication.
In the US, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, 24/7), or call 911 for an emergency. Elsewhere, contact local emergency services or find a helpline at findahelpline.com. A quiz is not the right tool for a crisis.
Good questions to ask
Cyclothymia test FAQs
Short, practical answers to common questions about cyclothymic disorder and this test.
Only a qualified clinician can tell you. Cyclothymic disorder involves many periods of milder high (hypomanic) symptoms and milder low (depressive) symptoms over at least two years in adults (one year in children and teens). The symptoms never reach a full hypomanic, manic or major depressive episode, and a clinician checks the other criteria and possible causes. This test shows how often you report experiences like these. It is not a validated clinical scale and cannot confirm or rule out the condition, but a high score is a good reason to talk to a doctor or mental health professional.
No. An online questionnaire can help you reflect on your mood pattern, but only a licensed clinician can make a diagnosis from your full history. The 15-question self-check on this page is an original educational questionnaire, not a validated clinical scale.
In summary: for at least two years (one year in children and teens), there have been many periods of hypomanic symptoms that do not meet the criteria for a hypomanic episode, and many periods of depressive symptoms that do not meet the criteria for a major depressive episode. Symptoms are present at least half the time, with no symptom-free stretch longer than two months. The criteria for a major depressive, manic or hypomanic episode have never been met. The symptoms are not better explained by another mental health condition, a substance or a medical condition, and they cause distress or affect functioning. Only a clinician can apply these criteria.
The main difference is how far the highs and lows go. Bipolar I disorder involves at least one manic episode. Bipolar II disorder involves at least one hypomanic episode and at least one major depressive episode. In cyclothymia, the highs and lows stay below these levels, but they keep coming back over at least two years. If you have had a high spell that lasted several days and that others noticed, the Bipolar Test may help you describe it to a clinician.
No, although both are long-lasting and both use a two-year time frame for adults. Dysthymia, now called persistent depressive disorder, involves a low mood on most days without highs. Cyclothymia involves both milder highs and milder lows. If your main concern is a low mood that rarely lifts, the Dysthymia Test is a closer fit.
Yes. Both can involve mood instability, impulsive behavior and stormy relationships, and researchers note that the two can be hard to tell apart. They can also occur together. A clinician who looks at your full history can assess both. The Borderline Personality Disorder Test explores that pattern.
Sometimes. According to MedlinePlus, less than one half of people with cyclothymic disorder go on to develop bipolar disorder. For others, cyclothymia continues as a long-term condition or fades with time.
They can occur together. Research links cyclothymia with anxiety, impulse control problems and substance use. NIMH notes that many people with bipolar disorder also have anxiety disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or problems with alcohol or drugs. If these sound familiar, the Anxiety Test or ADHD Test may help you prepare for a conversation with a clinician.
For some people it fades with time, while for others it continues as a long-term condition or develops into bipolar disorder. Because the course is hard to predict, an assessment is worthwhile if the highs and lows affect your life.
Editorial transparency
Sources and review information
Prepared by the PsyMed Editorial Team from the public clinical resources listed here. We are writers and researchers, not clinicians, and no licensed clinician is claimed as a reviewer. Read how we build our tests and who we are.
Medical and editorial references
- MedlinePlus: Cyclothymic disorder
- Merck Manual Professional Version: Cyclothymic Disorder (DSM-5-TR criteria summary)
- Merck Manual Consumer Version: Cyclothymic Disorder
- Merck Manual Professional Version: Bipolar Disorders
- NIMH: Bipolar Disorder
- NICE CG185: Bipolar disorder, assessment and management
- MedlinePlus: Persistent depressive disorder
- Perugi G, Hantouche E, Vannucchi G. Diagnosis and treatment of cyclothymia: the “primacy” of temperament. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2017;15(3):372-379. PMC5405616
- American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed., text rev.).
Your feelings deserve attention
Years of ups and downs deserve attention.
Use this check-in to organize your thoughts, then speak with a qualified professional if your highs and lows are affecting your life.
Take the self-check