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Pathological laughing and crying

F L Dark1, J J McGrath, M A Ron

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
|August 1, 1996
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Pathological laughing and crying, involuntary emotional expressions linked to brain damage, can be treated with antidepressants. Further research is needed to understand their neurobiology and evaluate treatment efficacy.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Pathological laughing and crying are involuntary emotional expressions often following brain damage.
  • The exact clinical features, triggers, and relationship to mood disorders remain debated.
  • These symptoms can arise from both focal and diffuse brain pathologies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the clinical manifestations of pathological laughing and crying.
  • To explore the neurobiological underpinnings of these emotional dysregulations.
  • To summarize current and potential treatment strategies.

Main Methods:

  • A selective review of existing medical literature was conducted.

Main Results:

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  • Involuntary emotional expressions like laughing or crying are recognized sequelae of brain injury.
  • Antidepressant medications have shown efficacy in managing these symptoms in conditions such as cerebrovascular disease and multiple sclerosis.
  • The pathophysiology remains unclear, but symptoms occur with various brain diseases.

    • Conclusions:

    • Clinicians should actively identify and treat pathological laughing and crying, with antidepressants being a viable option.
    • Further investigation into the neurobiological mechanisms is essential.
    • Critical evaluation of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment effectiveness is required.