Pseudobulbar affect (pba): symptoms, causes, to treatment

Definition

What is pseudobulbar affect (PBA)?

Pseudobulbar affect is a nervous breakdown that causes uncontrollable bursts of laughter or crying, in inappropriate situations. This condition is also known as emotional instability, pathological laughter and crying, disorder of involuntary emotional expression, compulsive laughter or crying, or emotional incontinence.

Those with PBA may unconsciously cry, laugh, or get angry. This outburst may be out of proportion. For example, something that is just a little sad, but is met with excessive crying.

The pseudobulbar affect (PBA) condition can also trigger laughter when sad events occur. It could also be that you are too quick to replace laughter with crying.

Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, pseudobulbar affect usually appears in people with neurological conditions or injuries, which may affect the part of the brain that controls emotions. This condition is often mistaken for a mood disorder (mood swing) .

How common is this condition?

Men and women may experience this. Pseudobulbar affect (PBA) is also known to occur in people with other neurological problems, such as Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

With a proper diagnosis, PBA can be controlled with medication.

Symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of pseudobulbar affect?

The main symptom of pseudobulbar affect (PBA) is experiencing bursts of crying or laughing that are uncontrollable, excessive, or unrelated to your emotional state. In addition, you also experience frequent emotional changes, such as laughter to crying, in a short period of time.

Your mood will appear normal between episodes, which can happen at any time. Crying appears to be a more common symptom of PBA than laughter.

The level of emotional response caused by PBA is often conspicuous with tears or laughter for up to several minutes.

You may laugh uncontrollably when you respond to less funny situations. You may also laugh or cry in situations that are not considered funny or sad.

A common symptom of pseudobulbar affect is crying. This condition is often mistaken for depression. However, episodes of PBA tend to be of short duration, whereas depression causes persistent feelings of sadness.

The difference between pseudobulbar affect and other depression is that PBA does not cause sleep disturbances or loss of appetite. However, depression is a common condition that affects people with PBA.

If you have PBA, you may feel anxious or embarrassed when in public. You may be worried about a "relapse episode" that might occur. This can lead to depression or anxiety.

If you treat someone with this condition, you may feel confused or frustrated. The emotional toll from this condition can greatly impact recovery and quality of life. It is important to seek care from a qualified doctor.

When to see a doctor

If you think you have PBA, talk to your doctor immediately. If you have a neurological or neurological condition, you may have already been treated by a doctor who diagnosed you with PBA.

Allegedly, there are many cases of pseudobulbar affect that go unreported and undiagnosed due to a lack of awareness about the condition.

Cause

What causes pseudobulbar affect?

Certain health conditions can cause pseudobulbar affect (PBA).

Pseudobulbar affect (PBA) usually occurs in people with neurological conditions or injuries, such as:

• Stroke
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Traumatic brain injury
• Alzheimer's disease, and other forms of dementia
• Parkinson's disease
• Epilepsy

Quoted from the American Stroke Association, in pseudobulbar affect, there is a disconnection between the frontal lobe (the part of the brain that controls emotions) and the cerebellum with the brain stem (where the reflex is translated).

The effects are uncontrollable and can occur without emotional triggers. However, further research is needed on the exact causes of pseudobulbar affect.

Diagnosis and Treatment

How is pseudobulbar affect diagnosed?

Pseudobulbar affect is usually diagnosed via neurological / neurological examination. To find out whether you have PBA or not you need to check this condition with an internal medicine doctor (internist), neurologist (neurologist), or a psychiatrist.

PBA is often confused with depression, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, and epilepsy.

How is pseudobulbar affect (PBA) treated?

Pseudobulbar affect treatment usually aims to reduce the severity and frequency of emotional outbursts. Treatment options include:

1. Antidepressants

Antidepressants, such as tricyclic or tricyclic antidepressants tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), can help reduce the frequency and severity of your PBA episodes.

Antidepressants in the treatment of PBA are usually prescribed at a lower dose than those used to treat depression.

2.Dextromethorphan hydrobromide and quinidine sulfate (Nuedexta)

Quoted from Healthline, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - or the equivalent of the POM in Indonesia - announced that Nuedexta is the first and only drug that specifically deals with pseudobulbar affect.

Nuedexta is a drug consisting of dextromethorphan hydrobromide and quinidine sulfate. This drug targets chemicals in the nervous system. Nuedexta is designed for PBA in people who have multiple sclerosis and other conditions.

However, Nuedexta is not currently sold in Indonesia.

Your doctor will help you choose the right therapy for you and give you medication by considering the side effects. A therapist can also help you go about your day-to-day activities with PBA.

Home remedies

What home remedies and lifestyle changes can I make to treat pseudobulbar affect?

PBA is a condition that occurs due to impaired brain function. However, changes in habits and lifestyle can reduce the effects of pseudobulbar affect.

Use general relaxation techniques when you sense an episode of PBA, so that you can reduce or avoid the episode. Those techniques include:

• Take a deep breath
• Meditation
• Yoga
• Art and music therapy

To reduce anxiety due to episodes of PBA, use the steps cited from Web MD below:

• Talk to those around you about your PBA and how it affects you and your family. This can help reduce shock or confusion when your episode occurs.
• Record every episode that takes place, including what caused it and how long it lasted. This will help when you go to the doctor.
• Talk to other people who also have PBA. They will understand the feelings you have and may provide tips to help you out.
• Change positions. If you feel a burst of laughter or crying coming, change your sitting or standing position.
• Breathe slowly and deeply. Keep doing this throughout the episode until you feel in control.
• Break. Emotional outbursts can strain your muscles. Rest your shoulders and forehead after the episode occurs.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.