Pseudobulbar affect (PBA) is a neurological condition that causes involuntary and uncontrollable laughter or crying in the face of negative emotions or stimuli.
The name pseudobulbar comes from the fact that it affects the part of the brain called the bulbar region, which includes structures like the tongue, larynx, pharynx, and respiratory muscles; but PBA does not actually alter these functions.
It can also cause decreased facial expression and reduced muscle tone of the head and neck; sometimes accompanied by drooling and other speech-related problems due to changes in the facial muscles.
What Is PBA?
Pseudobulbar Affect (PBA) is characterized by sudden, involuntary episodes of laughing or crying that may be out of proportion to a person’s emotional state or situation.
While PBA can occur following neurological conditions such as strokes, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, or neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease),
it can also be caused by other medical conditions including some cancers and autoimmune disorders (such as lupus). PBA is estimated to affect approximately 50,000 patients per year in the United States alone; however due to frequent misdiagnosis from physicians, only one third receive treatment.
Possible Causes of PBA
The most common known cause of pseudobulbar affect is brain damage due to traumatic injury or stroke. Also, head trauma, which often results in concussions and other injuries that may not be immediately noticed, could play a role in causing PBA by affecting areas that regulate moods.
On top of these possibilities are some that are still poorly understood by doctors as well as patients and their families: multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus, degenerative neurological disorders, traumatic brain injury (TBI), Lyme disease, transverse myelitis, encephalitis and many others.
Effects of PBA on Patients
PBA can have a wide range of negative effects on those suffering from it, depending on how prevalent and severe its symptoms are in each patient. Some of these negative symptoms can include anxiety, feelings of anger, social isolation and more.
In order to combat these issues caused by PBA, patients should look into pseudobulbar affect treatment . This type of therapy is administered using many methods like physical activity or verbal therapy, but no one method is considered more effective than another--
the important thing is that you find what works best for you as an individual. These types of therapy do require some dedication but are well worth it; if you’re suffering from PBA or know someone who might be, take a look at ways to combat these symptoms.
Treatment Options for PBA
One effective way to treat pseudobulbar affect is through medications, specifically anticonvulsants. While there are currently no FDA-approved medications for PBA, other drugs have been shown to be effective in treating PBA symptoms (e.g., mood stabilizers, antipsychotics).
Many physicians use a multi-tiered approach when treating PBA as different treatments work better for different patients. It’s important to keep in mind that there is no one right way to treat pseudobulbar affect;
instead, patients should receive treatment based on their needs and preferences—there is no perfect solution or cure at present time but many possible treatment options depending on your symptoms.
Can CBD oil be Used For Pseudobulbar Affect Treatment?
CBD oil is one way to treat pseudobulbar affect (PBA). This can be another alternative to other treatments that are available for PBA. The cannabidiol will help fight against all types of symptoms that someone might have because of having PBA.
As CBD oil reduces anxiety and helps with a person’s emotions, they should feel better when using CBD oil as a form of treatment or medication versus trying to use other conventional options without much success or results being gained at all.
You do not need a prescription in order to buy CBD oil, which is great news since those diagnosed with certain disorders will have some difficulty getting a doctor’s note anyways so they might as well buy CBD oil instead of dealing with further struggles along their journey.
How Will CBD Oil Work For Treating PBA?
CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabis compound that acts on neurotransmitters throughout your body, especially those located in your brain, to deliver its anti-anxiety and pain relief properties.
But CBD oil isn’t only good for treating anxiety—studies have shown that it can help with seizures, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis (MS), inflammation, pain relief, glaucoma and even cancer!
Since you mentioned pseudobulbar affect in your introduction, I think CBD could definitely be an option for treating PBA as well—however you should note that these are just my assumptions from reading about CBD online.