Cyclothymia and ADHD — A Risk Factor or Misdiagnosis?

This episode is the audio version of a popular blog post—all about overlap—and confusion—between Cyclothymia (a mood disorder) and ADHD.

📝 Read the full post here:
 Cyclothymia and ADHD: A Risk Factor—or Misdiagnosis?
https://adhdrollercoaster.org/the-basics-about-adult-adhd/cyclothymia-and-adhd-a-risk-factor-or-misdiagnosis/

In this episode, I explore the risks of misdiagnosis and the fallout from confusing mood instability with core ADHD traits. Many individuals with ADHD are misdiagnosed with mood disorders—and prescribed medications that may worsen their symptoms.

You’ll learn:

• What Cyclothymia is—and how it differs from Bipolar Disorder
• Why ADHD-related emotional dysregulation is not the same as mood cycling
• How misdiagnosis can delay proper ADHD treatment
• Why getting the diagnosis right is essential before starting medication
• What research and clinical observation tell us—and what the DSM doesn’t

This information is especially important for adults newly exploring a diagnosis and clinicians who want to avoid common pitfalls.

READY TO GO DEEPER — AND ACTUALLY MAKE PROGRESS?

💬 I love helping you better understand the complexity of ADHD as it applies to you, not a stereotype!

My online training program walks you through everything step-by-step:

Solving Your Adult ADHD Puzzle
For adults with ADHD and their partners. Includes expert video lessons and optional peer Q&A Zooms.

Learn more: https://ginapera.adhdsuccesstraining.com/

Podcast listener discount: Use code POD15 at checkout for 15% off any course.

Thanks for listening!
—Gina Pera

🔗 About My Work: https://adhdrollercoaster.org/about-gina-pera/

Transcript

Cyclothymia and ADHD: A Risk Factor or Misdiagnosis?



Hi there—I'm Gina Pera, and welcome to the ADHD Roller Coaster podcast.

Today, we're tackling an often-overlooked but important issue: Is it cyclothymia—or is it ADHD? Or is it both? Maybe you've heard both terms. Maybe you've even received both diagnoses. But what do they really mean? And how much do clinicians truly understand the difference?

This episode explores how cyclothymia—a relatively rare mood disorder—is often confused with ADHD. I’ll walk you through what the research says, how misdiagnosis happens, and why it matters to your treatment and well-being.

Let’s get started .

Many people with A.D.H.D. are also diagnosed with cyclothymia—sometimes before their ADHD diagnosis, sometimes after.

Cyclothymia is a mood disorder involving frequent mood swings between periods of hypomania and depression. But is cyclothymia part of ADHD? Or is it something entirely different?

This question matters a great deal—because a misdiagnosis can lead to the wrong treatment. And that’s not a small thing.

Here’s what’s often missing from clinical conversations:

ADHD commonly includes emotional dysregulation. Experts in the field have known this for decades. Unfortunately, most general mental health professionals haven’t gotten the memo.

They see emotional ups and downs, irritability, impulsivity—and they reach for mood disorder diagnoses like cyclothymia or bipolar disorder. What's often not even considered? You guessed it: Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

So today, let’s unpack this confusion—and what you can do if you find yourself caught in it.

There's Complexity: More Than a Checklist

ADHD is not a one-size-fits-all condition. It’s complex, variable, and often tangled up with other conditions. That complexity makes diagnosis tricky—especially when many professionals still view ADHD too narrowly.

Some traits are part of ADHD’s neurobiology. Others are what I call ADHD fallout—challenges that result from years of unmanaged or misunderstood ADHD. Things like chronic stress, poor sleep, or relationship troubles.

Still others are true co-existing conditions, such as anxiety or depression.

And then, there are temperament traits. These are natural personality variations—ways a person’s nervous system responds to the world. Cyclothymia often falls into this category. It shares some features with ADHD, like emotional variability and impulsivity. But that overlap often causes confusion.

What About the Research?

A recent study in the Cureus Journal of Medical Science looked into this overlap between temperament and ADHD.

Here’s what the researchers found:

Adults with ADHD scored significantly higher on cyclothyhmic, irritable, and anxious temperament scales than people without ADHD.

These traits were most pronounced in those with childhood-onset ADHD, suggesting a strong neurobiological link.

The takeaway? These temperament traits—especially cyclothymia—might act as risk factors for ADHD.

What does that mean? It doesn’t mean cyclothymia causes ADHD. It means that certain temperaments—like high emotional reactivity—may amplify the struggles associated with ADHD.

 Why the Right Diagnosis Matters

When clinicians misperceive ADHD-related mood swings as cyclothymia—or worse, bipolar disorder—it can lead to inappropriate treatments:

Mood stabilizers or antipsychotics may be prescribed unnecessarily.

Stimulant medications may be avoided, out of fear they’ll trigger mania—even though those stimulants may be exactly what’s needed.

And if ADHD remains untreated, emotional volatility, disorganization, and poor focus often get worse—not better.

It’s essential that clinicians see the full picture of ADHD, not just the surface symptoms. That includes how ADHD interacts with temperament, emotions, and daily functioning.

What You Can Do

If you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with both ADHD and cyclothymia—or if you suspect a misdiagnosis—here are three important steps:

1. Work with an ADHD-savvy clinician. Misdiagnosis often stems from a limited understanding of ADHD.

2. Request that ADHD symptoms be treated first. This can reduce many of the overlapping symptoms.

3. Educate yourself. Understanding the dimensional nature of ADHD helps you ask better questions and avoid being misled by superficial labels.

If you're not sure where to start, my online training, Solving Your Adult ADHD Puzzle, walks you step-by-step through understanding ADHD and separating true co-existing conditions from ADHD fallout.

You’ll find a link in the episode description.

 A Few Closing Thoughts

Understanding how cyclothymia and ADHD overlap is more than an academic exercise. It has real-world consequences.

Misdiagnoses delay treatment. They confuse both patient and provider. And they can derail lives.

By learning more about ADHD’s full spectrum—including its connection to temperament—we can move beyond labels and toward strategies that work.

If you're curious about ADHD’s overlap with other conditions—like anxiety or depression—check out my blog post titled “Misdiagnosis: ADHD or Something Else?” I’ve linked to it in the episode description.



Thanks for listening today.

If this topic struck a chord with you, you’re not alone. Misdiagnosis is more common than many people realize—but with better understanding, it’s also preventable.

And if you’re ready to go deeper, join me and hundreds of your peers in Solving Your Adult ADHD Puzzle. That's where you find comprehensive, reliable, step-by-step guidance grounded in the research, clinical experience, and real-world success.

Until next time, I hope this helps you move toward answers that truly fit.