emotional lability
{{Short description|Large, rapid changes in mood or affect}}
In medicine and psychology, emotional lability is a sign or symptom typified by exaggerated changes in mood or affect in quick succession.{{cite journal | vauthors = Posner J, Kass E, Hulvershorn L | title = Using stimulants to treat ADHD-related emotional lability | journal = Current Psychiatry Reports | volume = 16 | issue = 10 | pages = 478 | date = October 2014 | pmid = 25135778 | pmc = 4243526 | doi = 10.1007/s11920-014-0478-4 | publisher = Springer Nature }} Sometimes the emotions expressed outwardly are very different from how the person feels on the inside. These strong emotions can be a disproportionate response to something that happened, but other times there might be no trigger at all. The person experiencing emotional lability usually feels like they do not have control over their emotions. For example, someone might cry uncontrollably in response to any strong emotion even if they do not feel sad or unhappy.{{cite web|title=Understanding Emotional Lability|publisher=The State of Queensland (Queensland Health)|author=Acquired Brain Injury Outreach Service|year=2011|url=https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0030/387534/lability_fsw.pdf|access-date=January 6, 2017}}
Emotional lability is seen or reported in various conditions including borderline personality disorder,{{cite book| vauthors = Paris J |title=Borderline Personality Disorder: Etiology and Treatment|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LoQhNOrUnkYC&pg=PA106|year=1993|publisher=American Psychiatric Pub|isbn=978-0-88048-408-4|page=106|oclc=25281982}} histrionic personality disorder,{{cite book| vauthors = Kernberg OF |title=Aggression in Personality Disorders and Perversions|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I5DmSoaB15wC&pg=PA58|date=27 September 1995|publisher=Yale University Press|isbn=978-0-300-06508-4|page=58|oclc=25965238}} post-traumatic stress disorder,{{cite journal | vauthors = Schoenleber M, Berghoff CR, Gratz KL, Tull MT | title = Emotional lability and affective synchrony in posttraumatic stress disorder pathology | journal = Journal of Anxiety Disorders | volume = 53 | pages = 68–75 | date = January 2018 | pmid = 29197703 | pmc = 5748357 | doi = 10.1016/j.janxdis.2017.11.006 }} hypomanic or manic episodes of bipolar disorder,{{cite book| vauthors = Fortinash KM, Worret PA |title=Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xx8PDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA230|date=13 June 2014|publisher=Elsevier Health Sciences|isbn=978-0-323-29327-3|page=230|oclc=960964818}} and neurological disorders or brain injury (where it is termed pseudobulbar affect), such as after a stroke.{{cite journal | vauthors = Kim JS | title = Post-stroke Mood and Emotional Disturbances: Pharmacological Therapy Based on Mechanisms | journal = Journal of Stroke | volume = 18 | issue = 3 | pages = 244–255 | date = September 2016 | pmid = 27733031 | pmc = 5066431 | doi = 10.5853/jos.2016.01144 | publisher = Korean Stroke Society }} It has sometimes been found to have been a harbinger, or early warning, of certain forms of thyroid disease.{{cite web |url=http://www.med.unc.edu/medicine/education/residency/files/pdf/hyperthyroid.pdf | vauthors = Cassara M |date=2002-08-20 |title=Hyperthyroidism |journal= |access-date=2018-06-17 |archive-date=2018-07-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723131543/http://www.med.unc.edu/medicine/education/residency/files/pdf/hyperthyroid.pdf |url-status=dead }} Emotional lability also results from intoxication with certain substances, such as alcohol and benzodiazepines.{{cite book| vauthors = Stark MM, Payne-James JJ |title=Symptoms and Signs of Substance Misuse|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wy_-vdJpbZEC&pg=PA22|date=30 April 2009|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-13727-0|page=22|oclc=656492372}} It is also an associated feature of ADHD{{cite journal | vauthors = Cooper RE, Tye C, Kuntsi J, Vassos E, Asherson P | title = The effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on emotional dysregulation, oppositional behaviour and conduct problems in ADHD: A systematic review and meta-analysis | journal = Journal of Affective Disorders | volume = 190 | pages = 474–482 | date = January 2016 | pmid = 26551407 | doi = 10.1016/j.jad.2015.09.053 | publisher = Elsevier BV | url = https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/publications/9d03d93b-43c0-4cfa-ab4d-81b8d13a3629 }} and autism.{{cite journal | vauthors = Simonoff E, Jones CR, Pickles A, Happé F, Baird G, Charman T | title = Severe mood problems in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder | journal = Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines | volume = 53 | issue = 11 | pages = 1157–1166 | date = November 2012 | pmid = 22909395 | doi = 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2012.02600.x }}
Children who display a high degree of emotional lability generally have low frustration tolerance and frequent crying spells or tantrums. During preschool, ADHD with emotional lability is associated with increased impairment and may be a sign of internalizing problems or multiple comorbid disorders.{{cite journal | vauthors = Maire J, Galéra C, Meyer E, Salla J, Michel G | title = Is emotional lability a marker for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and aggression symptoms in preschoolers? | journal = Child and Adolescent Mental Health | volume = 22 | issue = 2 | pages = 77–83 | date = May 2017 | pmid = 32680322 | doi = 10.1111/camh.12168 | s2cid = 148130518 }} Children who are neglected are more likely to experience emotional dysregulation, including emotional lability.{{cite journal | vauthors = Maguire SA, Williams B, Naughton AM, Cowley LE, Tempest V, Mann MK, Teague M, Kemp AM | display-authors = 6 | title = A systematic review of the emotional, behavioural and cognitive features exhibited by school-aged children experiencing neglect or emotional abuse | journal = Child | volume = 41 | issue = 5 | pages = 641–653 | date = September 2015 | pmid = 25733080 | doi = 10.1111/cch.12227 | publisher = Wiley }}
Potential triggers of emotional lability include excessive tiredness, stress or anxiety, overstimulated senses (too much noise, being in large crowds, etc.), being around others exhibiting strong emotions, very sad or funny situations (such as jokes, movies, certain stories or books), death of a loved one, or other situations that elicit stress or strong emotions.