If you laugh or cry at inappropriate times, you aren’t crazy. You may be suffering the effects of pseudobulbar affect (PBA). The neurological disorder involves sudden outbursts of laughing or crying in inappropriate situations. The disorder affects people with Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis and brain tumors, but it can also develop after a concussion or traumatic brain injury.

What is pseudobulbar affect?

Pseudobulbar affect can have a serious impact on psychological health and social interactions. According to The National Institutes of Health, “Although

[PBA] is most commonly misidentified as a mood disorder, particularly depression or a bipolar disorder, there are characteristic features that can be recognized clinically or assessed by validated scales, resulting in accurate identification of PBA, and thus permitting proper management and treatment.”

Approximately 2 million Americans suffer from the disorder, but many don’t realize that PBA is a possible outcome of concussion or TBI. A study by the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund, Inc., a nonprofit that provides financial and medical assistance to retired NFL players, found that a mere 16% of former players who had symptoms of PBA had discussed them with a doctor.

Raising awareness

Jennifer McVige, a pediatric and adult neurologist who directs the concussion clinic at Dent Neurologic Institute in Amherst, NY, told Business Insider, “If you don’t tell someone this can happen, they think something is wrong with them- they blame themselves. If you explain it’s not your fault, it’s damage to the brain’s ability to regulate emotions- once you understand that, you can actually treat it better.”

PBA is relatively well known in medical circles, but public awareness of the condition is severely lacking. In an effort to correct the lack of information, the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund has partnered with Barry Sanders and others to launch a new campaign called “Tackle PBA.” The campaign will be the second high-profile attempt to educate the general public about the disease; the first starred actor Danny Glover, highlighting the difference between actors who control their emotions and PBA sufferers who cannot.

There are treatment options for those affected by PBA, but sufferers can’t get treatment if they are unaware of the problem or are too embarrassed to talk to their doctor. The Rocky McElhaney Law Firm supports every educational effort that helps to improve quality of life.

If you or someone you know suffers PBA as the result of a traumatic brain injury, you may be entitled to compensation for you injuries and ongoing medical treatment. Contact our experienced Tennessee traumatic brain injury attorneys in Nashville, Gallatin and Knoxville today for a free consultation.