ABSTRACT
Many and diverse theories have been advanced to account for this strange state of affairs. One could almost grade them from the chemico-physical at the bottom of the scale to the purely psychological at the top. An interesting reflection for the practical psychotherapist is the degree of applicability of this and similar theories in the analysis of minor degrees of cyclothymia, of the neuroses in particular and of personality disorders, character traits and so-called normal psychology in general. Cases are constantly being met with in which the maniacal attack appears to have no external cause whatever. Many individuals are born with the cyclothymic temperament, and throughout their lives are prone to periods of recurrent exaltation and depression.
