Contributions
Abstract: EP1378
Type: ePoster
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - 7 MS symptoms
Background: Pseudobulbar affect (PBA) is a neuropsychiatric syndrome where an individual's affect does not reflect their mood. It is characterized by periods of involuntary laughing or crying that may occur without any distinct stimulus. PBA episodes are typically exaggerated and do not match how the person feels. It commonly occurs in people with neurological conditions or injuries like stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer's disease,Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis (MS). PBA has been reported in approximately 10% of MS individuals. Cognitive dysfunction (CD) is estimated to affect about 60% of MS patients and may occur at early or late stages of the disease. Common CD changes in MS include decreased memory, information processing, attention, executive function, visuospatial function and verbal fluency. Impairments in cognitive function have been postulated to be more common in MS patients with PBA than those without PBA.
Purpose: To examine the frequency at which MS individuals with clinically proven CD also have PBA. The secondary objective was to examine the relationship of specific cognitive components in people with PBA.
Method: MS subjects with self-reported CD underwent computerized cognitive testing (NeuroTrax Mindstreams (NTM)) and completed questionnaires regarding PBA (Center for Neurologic Study-Lability Scale), and Beck Depression Scale, Fatigue Severity Scale and QOL (SF-36).
Results: Of a total of 32 participants, 24 (75%) had CD as measured by NTM of which 11 (46%) had PBA. Of those with self-reported CD that did not have demonstrable deficits by NTM, only 1 (12.5%) had PBA. Although of no statistical significance, patients with PBA scored lower than average on memory and motor skills. Scores on executive function, attention and information speed were better than memory and motor skills. No significance was found for relationship between CD and depression or fatigue
(P > .05).The only QOL component that significantly correlated with CD was physical function (P < .05).
Conclusion: We documented a high incidence of PBA in MS individuals with demonstrable CD, at a rate that far exceeds the reports of PBA in the overall MS population. CD in individuals with PBA was not driven by any specific domain and followed a similar pattern of those without PBA. Studies to evaluate these relationships at a greater scale are warranted and might reveal common pathophysiologic mechanisms.
Disclosure:
Gabriel Pardo, MD has nothing to disclose.
Farhat Husain, MD has nothing to disclose.
Anette S. Loughran-Fjeldstad, PhD has nothing to disclose.
Cecilie Fjeldstad, PhD has nothing to disclose.
Abstract: EP1378
Type: ePoster
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - 7 MS symptoms
Background: Pseudobulbar affect (PBA) is a neuropsychiatric syndrome where an individual's affect does not reflect their mood. It is characterized by periods of involuntary laughing or crying that may occur without any distinct stimulus. PBA episodes are typically exaggerated and do not match how the person feels. It commonly occurs in people with neurological conditions or injuries like stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer's disease,Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis (MS). PBA has been reported in approximately 10% of MS individuals. Cognitive dysfunction (CD) is estimated to affect about 60% of MS patients and may occur at early or late stages of the disease. Common CD changes in MS include decreased memory, information processing, attention, executive function, visuospatial function and verbal fluency. Impairments in cognitive function have been postulated to be more common in MS patients with PBA than those without PBA.
Purpose: To examine the frequency at which MS individuals with clinically proven CD also have PBA. The secondary objective was to examine the relationship of specific cognitive components in people with PBA.
Method: MS subjects with self-reported CD underwent computerized cognitive testing (NeuroTrax Mindstreams (NTM)) and completed questionnaires regarding PBA (Center for Neurologic Study-Lability Scale), and Beck Depression Scale, Fatigue Severity Scale and QOL (SF-36).
Results: Of a total of 32 participants, 24 (75%) had CD as measured by NTM of which 11 (46%) had PBA. Of those with self-reported CD that did not have demonstrable deficits by NTM, only 1 (12.5%) had PBA. Although of no statistical significance, patients with PBA scored lower than average on memory and motor skills. Scores on executive function, attention and information speed were better than memory and motor skills. No significance was found for relationship between CD and depression or fatigue
(P > .05).The only QOL component that significantly correlated with CD was physical function (P < .05).
Conclusion: We documented a high incidence of PBA in MS individuals with demonstrable CD, at a rate that far exceeds the reports of PBA in the overall MS population. CD in individuals with PBA was not driven by any specific domain and followed a similar pattern of those without PBA. Studies to evaluate these relationships at a greater scale are warranted and might reveal common pathophysiologic mechanisms.
Disclosure:
Gabriel Pardo, MD has nothing to disclose.
Farhat Husain, MD has nothing to disclose.
Anette S. Loughran-Fjeldstad, PhD has nothing to disclose.
Cecilie Fjeldstad, PhD has nothing to disclose.