Approximately two to seven million people in the US experience pseudobulbar affect (PBA), a condition in which individuals have unprovoked, intense emotional episodes, such as crying or laughing spells. PBA most often occurs as a result of other neurological conditions, such as brain tumors, dementia, and TBI. The condition is frequently misdiagnosed as depression or other mood disorders, prolonging symptoms and delaying treatment. Nuedexta, the brand name for dextromethorphan hydrobromide, is the only medication FDA-approved specifically for PBA. We present a case of a 42-year-old female who presented with headaches, excessive fatigue, and unprovoked crying spells. She was diagnosed with a grade 2 glioblastoma and later referred to psychiatry for her mood symptoms. After starting Dextromethorphan, she had significant improvement in her crying spells. This case brings awareness to the difficulties of diagnosing PBA and the importance of a correct diagnosis, as the treatments for other conditions in its differential are ineffective for PBA.

TBA