Table 1.

Necessary elements from proposed diagnostic criteria for IEED.

Episodes of involuntary or exaggerated emotional expression that result from a brain disorder, including episodes of laughing, crying, or related emotional displays. Episodes represent a change from the person’s usual emotional reactivity. Episodes may be incongruent with the person’s mood or in excess of the corresponding mood state. Episodes are independent or in excess of any provoking stimulus. The disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social or occupational functioning. The symptoms are not better accounted for by another neurologic or psychiatric disorder (e.g., gelastic or dacrystic epilepsy, facial dystonia, facial or vocal tics, facial dyskinesias, mania, depression, panic disorder, psychosis). The symptoms are not the direct physiological effect of a substance (e.g., drug of abuse or medication).

From Cummings JL, Arciniegas DB, Brooks BR, et al. CNS Spectrums Vol 11 (Suppl 6):1–7, 2006.