Pathological Laughter and Crying.

ABSTRACT

Pathological laughing and crying (PLC) is a disorder of emotional expression, accompanying various neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions. It causes significant distress and impairment in social and occupational functioning. It remains largely unrecognized in clinical settings and requires differentiation from other affective disorders. Validated instruments are available to aid in improving recognition of this disorder. Its pathophysiology is poorly understood. Antidepressants, dopaminergic and other newer agents have been reported to show varying levels of treatment success. This review describes the clinical features. pathophysiology and various treatment approaches available for PLC.