cyclothymia

This term describes a milder, chronic form of bipolar disorder. It is characterized by emotional instability where the peaks and valleys of mood are less extreme than those found in Bipolar I or II, yet they persist over a long duration, often creating a baseline of instability for the individual.

In a clinical context, the word is used to distinguish this specific pattern of mood cycling from more severe manic or major depressive episodes. Because it describes a specific medical condition, it is used primarily in psychiatric and psychological discourse rather than in casual conversation.