Pathological crying and laughing: treatment with sertraline.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of sertraline for treating pathological laughing and crying after stroke.


METHODS
Case series.


METHODS
Inpatient rehabilitation units of a community and a tertiary-care hospital.


METHODS
One patient was a 62-year-old right-handed man who had two strokes approximately 2 years apart and had computed tomography consistent with a cerebral infarct involving the left middle cerebral artery branches in the left parietal lobe. A second patient was a 72-year-old right-handed man who had a right middle cerebral artery infarct. He had a questionable history of depression prior to the stroke.


METHODS
Both patients had poststroke labile affect that was interfering with their rehabilitation. Sertraline was prescribed.


METHODS
Pretreatment and posttreatment scores on the Pathological Crying and Laughing Scale and Functional Independent Measure.


RESULTS
Both patients showed significant improvement after taking sertraline-improvement that was reflected in their pretreatment and posttreatment scores on the Pathological Crying and Laughing Scale and Functional Independent Measure. The staff noted improvements in sleeping, eating, social interaction, and therapy participation. Both patients tolerated the sertraline well and had no significant side effects.
Mukand
J
J
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Southern New England Rehabilitation Center, Providence, RI 02907, USA.
Kaplan
M
M
Senno
R G
RG
Bishop
D S
DS
D015057:1-Naphthylamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D003448:Crying; D006801:Humans; D007845:Laughter; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020280:Sertraline
D015057:1-Naphthylamine; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D020280:Sertraline