Do I have PBA?

You could have Pseudobulbar Affect (PBA) if you

  • Have been diagnosed with a brain injury or neurologic condition
  • Experience sudden, frequent, uncontrollable crying and/or laughing

If this applies to you, take the first step in learning if your symptoms could suggest PBA by completing the PBA Quiz.*

*This quiz is not a diagnostic tool. Only a healthcare professional can determine whether you have PBA.

Images of people affected by Pseudobulbar Affect (PBA)
Images of people affected by Pseudobulbar Affect (PBA)

All ambassadors are real patients living with PBA or caregivers for real patients living with PBA.

These steps can help you learn if your crying and/or laughing episodes could be a sign of PBA

Not sure where to start? The 7-question quiz can help determine if your symptoms suggest PBA. Take the quiz.

The PBA Quiz is based on the Center for Neurologic Study-Lability Scale (CNS-LS). This assessment was developed by healthcare professionals to help doctors determine whether a person is experiencing symptoms of PBA.

If your quiz score suggests you may have PBA, you can learn more about PBA through our FAQs, helpful videos, and personal stories from real people with PBA.

Only your healthcare provider can diagnose PBA, so you should make an appointment to discuss your symptoms. Your quiz results will be emailed to you and may make you feel more confident when talking with your healthcare provider about your crying and/or laughing episodes.

Getting a PBA diagnosis is a key step toward properly managing your symptoms with treatment. When you’re ready, use these tips for talking to your healthcare provider about PBA.

Find a specialist who treats PBA

If you think you may have PBA, a healthcare provider who has experience in treating PBA can help you determine what next steps to take.

The PBA Quiz

Could you or someone you care for have PBA?

PBA can happen in people with a brain injury or certain neurologic conditions. There's a 7-question quiz to help determine if you or your loved one is experiencing symptoms that could suggest PBA.

Take me to the Quiz

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There are times when I feel fine one minute, and then I'll become tearful the next over something small or for no reason at all.

There are times when the person seems to feel fine one minute, and then becomes tearful the next over something small or for no reason at all.

Others have told me that I seem to become amused very easily or that I seem to become amused about things that really aren't funny.

Others have told the person that they seem to become amused very easily or about things that really aren’t funny.

I find myself crying very easily.

The person finds himself/herself crying very easily.

I find that even when I try to control my laughter, I am often unable to do so.

The person finds that, even when they try to control their laughter, they are often unable to do so.

There are times when I won’t be thinking of anything happy or funny at all, but will suddenly be overcome by funny or happy thoughts.

There are times when the person I care for won’t be thinking of anything happy or funny at all, but will suddenly be overcome by funny or happy thoughts.

I find that even when I try to control my crying, I am often unable to do so.

The person finds that, even when they try to control their crying, they are often unable to do so.

I find that I am easily overcome by laughter.

The person finds that they are easily overcome by laughter.

Have you experienced or suffered from any of the following conditions?

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Survey Question & Answers

The PBA Quiz is based on the Center for Neurologic Study-Lability Scale (CNS-LS). This assessment was developed by healthcare professionals to help doctors determine whether a person is having PBA symptoms. It has been validated in ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and MS (multiple sclerosis) patient populations. The PBA Quiz is not a diagnostic tool and is not intended to substitute professional medical assessment and/or advice. Only a healthcare provider can diagnosis PBA.

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