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| Assessing tearfulness in the elderly
Tearfulness after a stroke* -
Usually inexplicable by patient
- Not associated with sadness
- "Emotional incontinence"
- Typically associated with "pseudobulbar palsy"
- May revert to uncontrollable laughter
Tearfulness in delirium-
Emotionally labile
- Tears not sustained
- Can be distracted from sadness
Tearfulness in depression-
Occurs in setting of sustained lowered mood
- Associated with reported sadness and misery
- Other features of depression are present
Tearfulness in adjustment reaction-
Associated with recent upsetting experience
- "Understandable sadness" or anger of recent onset
* Remember: patients who have had stroke are also at risk for
depression, delirium and adjustment reactions.
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