Identification of pseudobulbar affect symptoms in the nursing home setting: Development and assessment of a screening tool

Pseudobulbar Affect (PBA) is a neurologic condition characterized by involuntary outbursts of crying and/or laughing disproportionate to patient mood or social context. Although an estimated 9% of nursing home residents have symptoms suggestive of PBA, they are not routinely screened. Our goal was to develop an electronic screening tool based upon characteristics common to nursing home residents with PBA identified through medical record data. Nursing home residents with PBA treated with dextromethorphan hydrobromide/quinidine sulfate (n  = 140) were compared to age-, gender-, and dementia-diagnosis-matched controls without PBA or treatment (n = 140).

Source: Geriatric Nursing - August 11, 2017 Category: Nursing Authors: Carrie Allen, Barbara Zarowitz, Terrence O'Shea, Edward Peterson, Charles Yonan, Fanta Waterman Source Type: research