Cyclothymia in Entrepreneurs / founders

Key things to know What the evidence shows
How common is it? NE
Is it more common among entrepreneurs / founders? Variable energy/risk-taking/productivity can appear adaptive in entrepreneurship
Are entrepreneurs / founders at higher risk? No founder-specific epidemiology
How much higher is the risk? NE
How often can it be missed? Very High
Does it show up differently among entrepreneurs / founders? Strong Yes
How might it look different? Bursts of creativity/risk-taking/intense work followed by crashes can be romanticized as founder temperament; disorder requires persistent pathological cycling
What commonly occurs alongside it? ADHD; substance use; anxiety; depression
What can it be confused with? ADHD; normal entrepreneurial intensity; substance-induced mood changes; Bipolar II
Common screening tool TEMPS-A — cyclothymic temperament subscale → clinical evaluation
Separate screening tool for entrepreneurs / founders None
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