title: Recognizing and treating pseudobulbar affect.
abstract: Pseudobulbar affect, thought by many to be a relatively newly described condition, is in fact a very old one, described as early as the 19th century. It refers to those who experience inappropriate affect, disconnected from internal state, or mood, generally thought to be the result of an upper motor neuron injury or illness. One possible explanation for this condition's relative obscurity is the dearth of treatment options; clinical medicine is not typically in the habit of identifying conditions that cannot be modified. Now, however, there is good evidence for the treatment of pseudobulbar affect, and even a therapy approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As a result, appropriate identification and subsequent management of pseudobulbar affect is more important than ever. This article purports to summarize the origins of pseudobulbar affect, most current hypotheses as to its physiopathology, clinical identification, and evidence for management.
authors.affiliation: TMS NeuroHealth Centers of Richmond and Charlottesville,Glen Allen and Charlottesville,Virginia,USA.
authors.forename: William M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Sauvé
mesh_terms: D003915:Dextromethorphan / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004338:Drug Combinations; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D020828:Pseudobulbar Palsy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011802:Quinidine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; C507057:dextromethorphan - quinidine combination; D003915:Dextromethorphan; D011802:Quinidine
keywords: Affect; bulbar; crying; laughing; palsy; pseudobulbar