tsohl

Hi,

I'm going to give you definitions out of the DSM-IV:

Dysthymic disorder: If the person is chronically depressed but does not meet the full criteria for major depressive order, he or she may be diagnosed as having dysthymic disorder.

Cyclothymic disorder is an "official" category introduced to cover individuals who have a chronic, fluctuating mood disturbance involving numerous periods of hypomanic symptoms and numerous periods of depressive symptoms.

In the latter, the hypomanic or depressive symptoms are not severe enough to meet the criteria for mania or major depression (as defined in the DSM-IV.)

In dysthymia, there are no symptoms of hypomania or mania.

Hope this helps ---

Tsohl