Pseudobulbar Affect in an Elderly Female With Small Vessel Ischemic Disease and Alcohol Abuse Disorder: A Case Report

Abstract

Pseudobulbar affect (PBA) is a neurological condition characterized by recurrent, inappropriate, and involuntary outbursts of emotion, primarily crying and laughter, which are dissociated from the individual's emotional experience. The precise underlying cause of PBA remains unknown; however, existing evidence suggests the involvement of dopaminergic, serotonergic, and glutamatergic neurotransmission within the corticopontine-cerebellar pathways responsible for regulating the motor expression of emotions. Additionally, PBA has been observed to co-occur with other neurocognitive and psychiatric disorders. Therefore, it is crucial to consider the possibility of a PBA diagnosis in patients with underlying neurological damage and disorders.