Pharmaceutical interventions for emotionalism after stroke

Hackett ML, Yang M, Anderson CS, Horrocks JA, House A

Published Online:

February 17, 2010

Emotionalism often occurs after stroke. Emotionalism means that the person has difficulty controlling their emotional behaviour. Patients with stroke may suddenly start crying or, less commonly, laughing for no apparent reason. This is distressing for that particular person and their carers. Antidepressants, known to be helpful in patients with depression, may be an effective treatment for emotionalism after stroke, but there have been very few randomised controlled trials in this area. This review of seven trials, involving 239 participants, found that antidepressant drugs appear to reduce outbursts of crying or laughing. More trials with systematic assessment and reporting of adverse events are needed to ensure that these benefits outweigh the risks.

Abstract (click to read)

Background:

Antidepressants may be useful in the treatment of abnormal crying associated with stroke. This is an update of a Cochrane Review first published in 2004.

Objectives:

To determine whether pharmaceutical treatment reduces the frequency of emotional displays in people with emotionalism after stroke.

Search strategy:

We searched the trials registers of the Cochrane Stroke Group and the Cochrane Depression Anxiety and Neurosis Group (last searched August 2009). In addition, we searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library Issue 3, 2009), MEDLINE (1966 to May 2008), EMBASE (1980 to May 2008), CINAHL (1982 to May 2008), PsycINFO (1967 to May 2008), Arts and Humanities Index (1991 to May 2008), BIOSIS Previews (2002 to May 2008), Science Citation Index (1992 to May 2008), Social Sciences Citation Index (1991 to May 2008), Sociological Abstract/Sociofile (1974 to May 2008), ISI Web of Science (2002 to May 2008), reference lists, clinical trials registers, conference proceedings and dissertation abstracts. We also contacted authors, researchers and pharmaceutical companies.

Selection criteria:

Randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials comparing psychotropic medication to placebo in people with stroke and emotionalism (also known as emotional lability or pathological crying and laughing).

Data collection and analysis:

We obtained data for people who no longer met the criteria for emotionalism, and on reduction in frequency of crying. Primary analyses were the proportion of patients who met the criteria for emotionalism at the end of treatment. Secondary outcomes included emotionalism and depression scores, cognitive function, death, activities of daily living and adverse effects.

Main results:

We included seven trials involving 239 participants. Data were available for five trials with 213 participants. Five trials showed large effects of treatment: 50% reduction in emotionalism, diminished tearfulness, improvements (reduction) in lability, tearfulness and scores on the Pathological Laughter and Crying Scale. However, confidence intervals were wide indicating that treatment may have had only a small positive effect, or even a small negative effect (in one trial). Only two studies systematically reported adverse events; no discernible differences were seen between groups.

Authors' conclusions:

Antidepressants can reduce the frequency and severity of crying or laughing episodes. The effect does not seem specific to one drug or class of drugs. Our conclusions must be qualified by several methodological deficiencies in the studies. More reliable data are required before recommendations can be made about the treatment of post-stroke emotionalism.

This record should be cited as:

Hackett ML, Yang M, Anderson CS, Horrocks JA, House A. Pharmaceutical interventions for emotionalism after stroke. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2010, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD003690. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003690.pub3

Assessed as up to date:

September 25, 2009

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Primary Review Group:

Stroke Group

Health topics:

Heart & circulation > Stroke > Prevention & treatment of complications

Neurology > Stroke > Prevention & treatment of complications

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Pharmaceutical interventions for emotionalism after stroke

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