A personality characteristic typified by marked changes of mood from cheerful, energetic, and sociable to gloomy, listless, and withdrawn. Mood swings may last for days or months and may follow a regular pattern.
The state characterised by extreme swings of mood from elation to depression, and vice versa. (See also MANIC DEPRESSION; MENTAL ILLNESS.)
(cyclothymic disorder) n. the occurrence of mood swings from cheerfulness to misery. These fluctuations are not as great as those of *bipolar affective disorder. They may represent a personality trait for which *psychotherapy is sometimes helpful.
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