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Related Experiment Videos

Pathological laughter: common vs. unusual aetiology and presentation

A Arlazaroff1, R Mester, B Spivak

  • 1Department of Neurology, Assaf HaRofeh Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.

The Israel Journal of Psychiatry and Related Sciences
|November 6, 1998
PubMed
Summary

Pathological laughter and crying, a neurological and psychiatric symptom, involves involuntary emotional expression without mood change. This study presents three cases, exploring causes and psychopathology, especially in post-traumatic stress disorder.

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Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Pathological laughter and crying is a recognized clinical phenomenon often linked to neurological and psychiatric conditions.
  • It is characterized by involuntary motor expression of affect, distinct from genuine emotional states.

Observation:

  • The study presents three cases of pathological laughter.
  • Two cases were associated with organic brain conditions.
  • The third case presented as a monosymptomatic condition, possibly linked to post-traumatic stress disorder.

Findings:

  • Pathological laughter is not a disturbance of affectivity but a motor concomitant of affective expression.
  • Key characteristics include lack of voluntary control and absence of corresponding mood change.
  • It is differentiated from emotional lability in organic brain syndromes, inappropriate jocularity in frontal lobe disturbances, substance intoxication, and manic syndromes.

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Implications:

  • Understanding the aetiology and psychopathology of pathological laughter is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
  • The case of monosymptomatic pathological laughter suggests a potential link to post-traumatic stress disorder, warranting further investigation.
  • Differentiating pathological laughter from other conditions is essential for effective clinical management.