Table of contents:
- What are the symptoms of someone with pseudobulbar affect?
- What causes a person to have pseudobulbar affect?
- Treatment for pseudobulbar affect
Crying and laughing are normal things you do. You will have tears in your eyes when you feel sad or laugh out loud at a joke made by a friend. However, did you know that there are a million people in the world who often cry and laugh suddenly, act in control, and often at the wrong time? This response is not a sign of a happy or sad mood, but because of a nervous system disorder called pseudobulbar affect or commonly abbreviated as PBA.
What are the symptoms of someone with pseudobulbar affect?
Someone who has this disorder usually suddenly often cries and laughs uncontrollably, they can cry or laugh at inappropriate times and it will last longer than a normal person's laugh or cry. And this will happen several times a day a month. The facial expression of a person who has pseudobulbar affect usually does not match his emotions.
Laughing and crying for someone with PBA is not related to mood or mood. In other words, you may feel happy but start crying and can't stop. Or you could feel sad but start laughing when you shouldn't. You may just cry or laugh a lot. Some people say the symptoms of PBA come on quickly and can't be prevented. However, it is important to note that the pseudobulbar affect is different from the symptoms of depression or bipolar disorder.
If you or someone close to you has PBA, this disorder may make someone anxious or embarrassed in public. You may worry about your future or social life and often cancel plans with friends or family out of fear.
If you live with someone who has PBA, you may have been feeling confused or frustrated. Emotional anxiety will greatly affect recovery and quality of life. It is important to seek treatment immediately from a qualified doctor.
What causes a person to have pseudobulbar affect?
Scientists believe that PBA is the result of damage to the prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain that helps control emotions. Changes in brain chemicals linked to depression and mood can also play a role.
Injury or disease that affects the brain is thought to cause pseudobulbar affect. According to research, about half of people who have had a stroke have pseudobulbar affect. Diseases commonly associated with PBA include, brain tumors, dementia, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Parkinson's disease.
Treatment for pseudobulbar affect
Doctors usually prescribe antidepressants to control the symptoms of PBA, but these drugs don't always work well. In 2010, the FDA approved dextromethorphan / quinidine (nuedexta), the first drug therapy for PBA. Studies show this drug helps control someone who often cries and laughs uncontrollably because of having PBA.
