What is not typically a symptom of cyclothymia?

Cyclothymia is classified as a mood disorder characterized by numerous periods of hypomanic symptoms and periods of depressive symptoms that are less severe than those seen in major depression. One of the key features of cyclothymia is that the mood changes experienced by the individual are typically mild and do not meet the criteria for major depressive episodes or manic episodes.

Severe manic episodes are not a symptom of cyclothymia; instead, individuals will experience hypomania, which is a less intense form of mania. This means that while they may have elevated moods and increased energy, the symptoms are not severe enough to cause significant impairment or require hospitalization, which is a hallmark of a manic episode.

On the other hand, chronic mild depression and prolonged periods of sadness can be part of the depressive symptoms experienced in cyclothymia, as well as frequent mood changes due to the nature of the disorder. Hence, the presence of severe manic episodes distinctly marks a condition that is separate from cyclothymia, reinforcing why it's the correct response to identify what is not typically a symptom of the disorder.