Pseudobulbar Affect

Written by Shaurya Gulani | Art by Anoushka Pandya

Many people who become emotional over minor events are often labeled as oversensitive. Many people who laugh hysterically in serious situations may be labeled as insensitive. However, there could be more to the story, they could have a serious neurological condition called the Pseudobulbar Affect. It is estimated that millions of people around the United States have Pseudobulbar Affect.

Those with Pseudobulbar Affect, or PBA, experience episodes of hysterical laughing or intense crying that are usually disconnected from their real mood. As a result, people with PBA often find themselves laughing or crying in inappropriate situations. It is important to note, however, that PBA is not associated with social anxiety or depression. Symptoms of the discrepancy between your mood and the display of emotions these individuals experience include involuntary outbursts, frustration, and more. Such outbursts can last up to a few minutes, in a sudden manner almost like seizures.

PBA often results from other neurological disorders that damage the medulla oblongata, a part of the brain responsible for regulating emotions. Some neurological disorders that can cause PBA include trokes, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, brain injuries, and more. Through research, scientists have found that PBA tends to be more common with stroke victims.

Unfortunately, PBA has no cure at the moment. Treatments such as cognitive therapy, where you practice challenging your emotional responses are not yet supported by research.

However, practicing patient education has been proven to be beneficial. Becoming educated about PBA is important for the patient and their friends and family to understand the patient’s loss of control over their feelings. This article intends to raise awareness of this condition because people with PBA often find themselves having to become socially withdrawn and isolated to avoid embarrassment. Through education, people can find a way to live with PBA and enjoy themselves around their loved ones.

Works Cited:

Pseudobulbar Affect Uncontrollable Crying & Laughing Is Fully Treatable, http://www.psycom.net/pseudobulbar-affect. Accessed 6 Apr. 2024.

Account, SuperUser. “Pseudobulbar Affect: An Often-Overlooked Condition.” Geron, Geron, 11 Aug. 2022, http://www.geron.org/News-Events/GSA-News/Press-Room/Press-Releases/pseudobulbar-affect-an-often-overlooked-condition. 