Cyclothymia in Older adults / Seniors

Key things to know What the evidence shows
How common is it? Historical Finnish adults 60+: men 0.4%, women 0%; very old/local estimate
Is it more common among older adults / seniors? Likely less commonly recognized than in younger populations
Are older adults / seniors at higher risk? No established elevation
How much higher is the risk? Historical 60+ sample: 0.4% men / 0% women
How often can it be missed? Very High
Does it show up differently among older adults / seniors? Yes
How might it look different? Longstanding fluctuating mood may be mislabelled recurrent depression, personality change or normal ageing
What commonly occurs alongside it? Depression; anxiety
What can it be confused with? Bipolar II; recurrent MDD; dementia-related behavioural change; medication effects
Common screening tool TEMPS-A — cyclothymic temperament subscale → clinical evaluation
Separate screening tool for older adults / seniors None
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