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Rapid Response of Emotional Incontinence to Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

Received January 6, 1998; revised February 3, 1998; accepted March 4, 1998. From the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina; and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. Address correspondence to Dr. Nahas, Psychopharmacology and Neuroimaging Fellow, Department of Psychiatry, MUSC, IOP 5 North, 67 President Street, Charleston, SC 29403.

Emotional incontinence (EI) is a perturbing condition characterized by uncontrollable outbursts of exaggerated, involuntary facial expressions and pathological crying or laughter. There is increasing evidence that serotonergic neurotransmission may be damaged in EI. The authors report 4 pathological crying cases (3 poststroke and 1 with multiple sclerosis) and 1 case of pathological laughter after traumatic brain injury. EI improved dramatically with three different selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (fluoxetine, sertraline, and paroxetine) in the context of these different CNS diseases.

Key Words: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors • Emotional Incontinence • Laughing or Crying, Pathological

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