Causes Of Pseudobulbar Affect

Pseudobulbar affect is a condition of emotional disturbance that occurs when individuals experience uncontrollable and sudden bouts of crying or laughing at inappropriate times. The condition most often affects patients with neurological problems that affect how the brain regulates emotion. Pseudobulbar affect patients experience normal emotions, but will randomly express them in an inappropriate or exaggerated way. This condition can sometimes remain undiagnosed for a long time, and it can also be mistaken for a number of different mood disorders. After pseudobulbar affect is diagnosed, it can be managed through medications. Patients with neurological conditions should talk to their neurologist if they believe they may have pseudobulbar affect. If individuals haven't been diagnosed with a neurological condition, pseudobulbar affect can sometimes be an indicator of an underlying condition.

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Multiple Sclerosis

Studies have been conducted to determine how prevalent pseudobulbar affect is in patients with multiple sclerosis. One study was done on seventy-nine multiple sclerosis patients. Before the study, the general estimation of pseudobulbar affect's prevalence in multiple sclerosis patients was ten to 46.2 percent. In the study of seventy-nine participants, thirty-three met the diagnostic criteria of pseudobulbar affect, otherwise known as a rate of 41.8 percent. In addition, of the patients who met the criteria, more than forty percent had not talked to their neurologist about their symptoms. It's common for patients to avoid talking to their neurologist because of the way symptoms are stigmatized. Multiple sclerosis is a disease in the central nervous system that causes disruption to the information processing part of the brain, in addition to disrupting the flow of information from the body to the brain and vice versa.

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Parkinson's Disease

One survey of Parkinson's disease patients indicated that of the 449 surveyed, about 3.6 percent showed symptoms of pseudobulbar affect. If this statistic is applied to all Parkinson's disease patients across the United States, there may be thirty-five thousand who have pseudobulbar affect. Other sources believe the rate of pseudobulbar affect among Parkinson's disease patients might be closer to twenty-four percent, meaning almost one in four Parkinson's disease patients have symptoms of pseudobulbar affect. Experts believe the condition is often undiagnosed because patients aren't aware of it. Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that mainly affects movement. Symptoms might begin with tremors, although the disease can also cause slowing and stiffness. There isn't any cure for Parkinson's disease. The disease happens when the brain's nerve cells begin to break down and die. When the patient's brain loses the ability to produce dopamine, the decrease in dopamine leads to abnormal activity in the brain.

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Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries can take a number of forms, and their symptoms depend on the severity of the injury and the part of the brain affected, though they have been noted to often include pseudobulbar affect. A concussion is the mildest traumatic brain injury. In normal circumstances, the cerebral cortex, located at the front of the brain, can communicate with the cerebellum, which is located at the back of the brain. This communication allows individuals to regulate their emotional responses. However, if the cerebellum is damaged by nerve problems or lesions, this disrupts the communication. If an individual suspects they have a brain injury, they should get emergency medical help right away. This may include contacting their physician, calling 911, or going to the emergency room. Brain injuries have a number of different symptoms, and while some eas after a while, others are permanent.

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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive disease that causes degeneration in the nerves of the spinal cord and brain. The body has motor neurons that reach throughout the nervous system, from the muscles to the spinal cord, and then from the spinal cord to the brain. This condition causes these motor neurons to die, and without motor neurons, individuals lose the ability to control their movements. As the disease progressions, patients can lose the capacity to eat, speak, move, or breathe. They can also deal with pseudobulbar affect. There are two presentations amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Sporadic ALS is by far the most common, accounting for between ninety to ninety-five percent of cases. This presentation of the disease can affect anyone throughout the world. Familial ALS is caused by a gene mutation passed down through families.

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Stroke

A stroke occurs when the blood flowing to the brain is cut off. Just part of the brain may be affected, or the entire brain may be affected. As soon as the brain loses the oxygen necessary to stay alive, the cells start to die. Individuals may experience impaired muscle control and memory. Strokes affect patients differently depending on the portion of the brain affected and the amount of the brain that becomes damaged. Though some recover completely from the incident, over two-thirds of survivors are permanently affected. Pseudobulbar affect is one of the behaviors most commonly reported after an individual suffers a stroke. Studies indicate up to fifty percent of stroke survivors experience at least one episode of pseudobulbar affect.