Pseudobulbar Affect: Mysterious Disorder and Bizarre Behavior

The author discussed a case of pseudobulbar affect following a traumatic brain injury with weakness on the right side of the body in a middle aged man. The case highlighted the under-treatment and under-diagnosis of PBA in various neurological disorders and how familiarities with diagnosis and treatment of PBA can make a dramatic changes in patients’ lives. The author also discussed the pathophysiology and the treatment of the condition. Research into the pathophysiology of the disorder along with cognitive and drug treatment are desperately needed to understand this mysterious disorder.

Keywords: Pseudobulbar affect, cerebellum, cognitive dysfunction, pathological laughter and crying, emotional lability, traumatic brain injury, depression.