title: It's nothing to laugh about: understanding disorders of emotional expression.
abstract: Sudden outbursts of laughing, crying, or other emotional expression without an apparent triggering stimulus have been recorded in the literature for decades. Confusing nomenclature and a paucity of clinical research, however, have had clinicians wondering whether this syndrome may be both under-recognized and undertreated. Treatment options, including antidepressants, levodopa, and dextromethorphan/quinidine, may show promise in ameliorating symptoms for patients plagued with disorders of emotional expression.
authors.affiliation: Greensboro, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Caren McHenry
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003448:Crying; D003915:Dextromethorphan / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004338:Drug Combinations; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019260:Expressed Emotion; D006801:Humans; D007845:Laughter; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011802:Quinidine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014836:Volition
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D015259:Dopamine Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D007980:Levodopa; D003915:Dextromethorphan; D011802:Quinidine