Pseudobulbar affect

Pseudobulbar affect (PBA), or emotional incontinence, is a type of <a href="/facts/Affect_disorder/Y0Mjq3QR">affect disorder</a> connected to <a href="/facts/Neurological_condition/eQKKs7jX">neurological conditions</a>. It is characterized by brief, intense, uncontrollable episodes of <a href="/facts/Crying/zLtU4Q1f">crying</a> or <a href="/facts/Laughter/wXVj2WFP">laughing</a>. The affect is triggered by emotionally trivial or neutral stimuli, that not necessarily relate to the emotional state.
PBA <a href="/facts/Sequela/VJ89GSoC">is a consequence</a> of another neurologic disorder or <a href="/facts/Brain_damage/70hWCEhs">brain injury</a>. Patients may find themselves crying uncontrollably at something that is only slightly sad, being unable to stop themselves for several minutes. Episodes may also be <a href="/facts/Mood_congruence/EtaHBv0F">mood-incongruent</a>: a patient may laugh uncontrollably when angry or frustrated, for example. Sometimes, the episodes may switch between emotional states, resulting in the patient crying uncontrollably before dissolving into fits of laughter.
PBA is a severe disruption of momentary emotional expression rather than the persistent, excessive, and pervasive disturbances characteristic of mood disorders. Thus, it is to be distinguished from <a href="/facts/Emotional_lability/DxVloyc0">emotional lability</a> as it occurs with <a href="/facts/Depression_(mood)/GDNFWm1L">depression</a>. PBA, emotional lability, and <a href="/facts/Irritability/yK49u3EP">irritability</a> are subsumed under the term emotional dyscontrol.

Pseudobulbar affect open-in-new

Pseudobulbar affect