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Subscribe to RSSIf you've ever burst out laughing at a funeral -- or burst into tears at a board meeting -- you can sympathize with those who suffer from pseudobulbar effect, a neurologic condition that causes involuntary laughing or crying. We wrote about the condition, which is also called involuntary emotional expression disorder, earlier this year -- and now the Food and Drug Administration has just approved the first-ever treatment for the little known condition, Reuters is reporting.
We must know: Tell us about the most inappropriate time a case of the giggles has hit you. (Crybabies, same question applies to you.)
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I believe my Grandmother may have been afflicted with this disorder. She lived with us and other close relatives on and off for 30 years before being placed in a nursing home and dying in her early 90s. From about 60 years of age onward she would laugh at horrible stories told on the evening news. She was otherwise a sensible person who functioned normally in the household, reliably completing household chores. In the evenings, her habit was to sit with the family to hear the news before retiring to her room and whatever sad story would be told regarding tragedies of whatever kind she would break out giggling. This made us all a bit uncomfortable and she would usually quit the room after two or three episodes of the giggles. We didn't understand it and neither did she. We all just kept quiet about it because no one really knew what it think or say about it. This odd habit continued on until she died. I am in my 60s now and sincerely hope that this isn't a familial trait.
I have had this happen to me through out my life, I thought I was just weird. I was at a close family members funeral who had taken his life. I was truly devastated but a the funeral I started to laugh and couldn't stop, it was awful. I have also had times when someone would ask me a question and start to cry and no matter how hard I would try i couldn't stop either the laughing or crying, here all this time I thought it was just me.
I broke out laughing in the middle of an awards ceremony. Incredible heroism was attributed to someone who was involved in high school journalism. Really, the description was over the top, and ridiculously it was describing me! 50 years later, such ludicrous ceremonies still make me laugh. However, at an employer's silly ceremonies, I've kept a somber face and not laughed because it meant my income. Have a sense of humor.
It will be interesting to watch how the psychiatric and drug communities widen the spectrum of patients who need this drug. All of a sudden kids getting the giggles during assembly will be targets for prescribing. Visit http://CCHR.org for their documentaries on this very thing.