PBA is a condition that causes uncontrollable crying and/or laughing that happens suddenly and frequently. It can happen in people with a brain injury or certain neurologic conditions.
A person having a PBA crying spell may cry when they don’t feel sad or when they only feel a little bit sad. Someone having a PBA laughing spell may laugh when they don’t feel amused or when they only feel a little bit amused.
*When considering patients with any of 6 common neurologic conditions associated with PBA, it is estimated that 37%, or an estimated 7.1 million Americans, have symptoms suggestive of PBA as defined by a CNS-LS (Center for Neurologic Study-Lability Scale) score ≥13 and 9.4% of patients, or an estimated 1.8 million Americans, with CNS-LS scores ≥21. The presence of PBA symptoms was defined as a CNS-LS score ≥13 and a more restrictive definition was also evaluated using CNS-LS ≥21. The CNS-LS was validated as a PBA screening tool in ALS and MS populations. A CNS-LS score ≥13 merits further diagnostic assessment.
**Work SS, Colamonico JA, Bradley WG, Kaye RE. Pseudobulbar affect: an under-recognized and under-treated neurological disorder. Adv Ther. 2011;28:586-601.
PBA is neurologic which means it’s caused by damage to the nervous system.
Conditions like depression are psychological which means they’re related to a person’s emotional or mental state.
*Formal diagnosis of PBA or depression can only be made by a qualified healthcare professional (HCP). These are not all of the diagnostic features of depression or PBA. PBA occurs in the context of a neurologic condition/injury affecting the brain and is not explained by other causes such as medication use.
†Tearfulness/crying is not a diagnostic hallmark for depression diagnosis.
The impact of a PBA episode goes beyond crying and laughing.
PBA is a real condition that you can do something about. Ask your doctor how PBA can be managed.
It’s a struggle not to have people think I’m crazy! I’ll just bust out laughing and crying. I don’t understand how you can be so happy… and then bawling.
You’ll be somewhere and stand out. You’re different and people look at you differently.
He really gets down on himself about it…He doesn’t feel like he’s the same person.
Answer these questions, then talk to your doctor about your options.
Remember: PBA is different from depression, but it's possible to have both at the same time. The two should be diagnosed and managed separately.
Need help explaining your symptoms to your doctor?
Other names are sometimes used to describe PBA. Many of these don't accurately describe the condition or its symptoms. You may hear others refer to PBA as: