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Defining and Diagnosing Involuntary Emotional Expression Disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 November 2014

Jeffrey L. Cummings ,
David B. Arciniegas ,
Benjamin R. Brooks ,
Robert M. Herndon ,
Edward C. Lauterbach ,
Erik P. Pioro ,
Robert G. Robinson ,
Douglas W. Scharre ,
Randolph B. Schiffer  and
Daniel Weintraub
Jeffrey L. Cummings
Affiliation:
L. Cummings, MD, is director of the Alzheimer's Disease Center, director of the Deanne F. Johnson Center for Neurotherapeutics, and executive vice chair of the Department of Neurology at David Geffen School of Medicine at the, University of California, Los Angeles
David B. Arciniegas
Affiliation:
David B. Arciniegas, MD, is director of the Neurobehavioral Disorders Program and associate professor of psychiatry and neurology at the, University of Colorado School of Medicine. He is also medical director of the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit at HealthONE Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital in Denver, Colorado
Benjamin R. Brooks
Affiliation:
Benjamin R. Brooks, MD, is professor of neurology in the Department of Neurology at the, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Robert M. Herndon
Affiliation:
Robert M. Herndon, MD, is professor of neurology in the Department of Neurology at the, University of Mississippi in Jackson
Edward C. Lauterbach
Affiliation:
Edward C. Lauterbach, MD, is chief of the Division of Adult and Geriatric Psychiatry and professor of psychiatry, neurology, and radiology at, Mercer University in Macon, Georgia
Erik P. Pioro
Affiliation:
Erik P. Pioro, MD, PhD, is director of the Center for ALS and Related Disorders and staff neurologist in the Department of Neurology at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio
Robert G. Robinson
Affiliation:
Robert M. Herndon, MD, is professor of neurology in the Department of Neurology at the, University of Mississippi in Jackson
Douglas W. Scharre
Affiliation:
Douglas W. Scharre, MD, is director of the Division of Cognitive Neurology and associate professor of clinical neurology and psychiatry in the Department of Neurology at, Ohio State University in Columbus
Randolph B. Schiffer
Affiliation:
Randolph B. Schiffer, MD, is professor and Vernon and Elizabeth Haggerton Chair in Neurology in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at, Texas Tech University in Lubbock
Daniel Weintraub
Affiliation:
Daniel Weintraub, MD, is assistant professor of psychiatry and neurology in the Section of Geriatric Psychiatry at the, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
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Abstract

Uncontrollable episodes of emotional expression occur in a variety of neurological conditions. This emotional disinhibition syndrome is characterized by episodes of crying or laughing that are unrelated to or out of proportion to the eliciting stimulus. This syndrome is common among patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, stroke,and traumatic brain injury and a variety of terms and definitions have been used to describe it. The confusing nomenclature has been a barrier to understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of this disorder. The authorspropose a unifying term, involuntary emotional expression disorder (IEED), and provide diagnostic criteria for this disorder.

Type
Research Article
Information
CNS Spectrums , Volume 11 , Issue S6 , June 2006 , pp. 1 - 11
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2006

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