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What Causes Unnecessary Laughter After Every Statement?

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Posted on Tue, 26 May 2015
Question: My Mother Laughs at after everything she says all the time ? should I be worried
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ravi Soni (14 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
It may be due to dementia or other organic brain illness

Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing through HCM.

I have read your query and understood your concerns. Your mother laughs after saying something always.

I just want to make it clear regarding the illness and am asking few questions:
1. Does she always laugh? Even when she is not talking?
2. Does she cry after saying something or without any reason?
3. Does she identify family members?
4. Does she forget recent activities?
5. Does she has any illness like hypertension, diabetes, thyroid problems?

Emotional incontinence or lability is a symptoms commonly seen in organic brain syndrome. According to your history, she had stroke in february. These inappropriate laughter can be explained on the basis of that. It can be managed easily with SSRI antidepressant drugs.

If you have CT scan head of your mother at the time of stroke then upload the images of it along with other reports. [or MRI brain if available]

As such, these inappropriate laughter is not a serious problem but it indicates that other psychological symptoms with memory problems can occur in future, so before that we should be able to make a proper diagnosis with treatment options.

I am waiting for your reply.
Wish you good health.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ravi Soni (2 hours later)
question One : No she does not

question two : no never

question three : yes she can

question four : Yes she does it seems short term is not very good at all.
for she can watch a nascar race ( that she Loves to do ) and after the race we ask her who won and she can not tell us

question five : she has hypertension and thyroid problems

She is on Depression Meds twice a day ( Citalopram 20 mg )

I don't have a copy of the Ct scan or MRI


Her famous line if she cant read her writing or you ask simple question she always says I don't know
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ravi Soni (12 hours later)
Brief Answer:
She is probably having dementia

Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing again.

After reviewing your answers, I can say that she has dementia, may be mild because of the stroke she had in february. Inappropriate laughter is commonly seen in patients who have suffered stroke. So, something wrong is there in her brain.

I here suggest you to visit a neurologist and ask for detailed evaluation. The inappropriate laughter can be improved with psychotropic drugs. Brain imaging is indicated and you should go for that. She may require anti-dementia drugs like donepezil and memantine. Continue drugs for hypertension and thyroid disease.

She is already taking citalopram 20 mg twice a day. Can you tell me why she was prescribed that?

Hope I have answered your query. If you do not have further clarifications then close the discussion and rate the answer.
Wish you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Pradeep Vitta
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ravi Soni (2 days later)
She is already taking citalopram 20 mg twice a day. Can you tell me why she was prescribed that?

Was prescribed after Our Father passed away.

Thank you for answering questions it helps alot thank you
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ravi Soni (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Citalopram may be given for depression

Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing again.

I feel that after the death of your father she might be depressed, so she was prescribed citalopram 20 mg.

Do visit a neurologist and take her with you.

Hope This will help you. If you do not have any further clarifications then close the discussion and rate the answer.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Ravi Soni

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2010

Answered : 538 Questions

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What Causes Unnecessary Laughter After Every Statement?

Brief Answer: It may be due to dementia or other organic brain illness Detailed Answer: Hi, thanks for writing through HCM. I have read your query and understood your concerns. Your mother laughs after saying something always. I just want to make it clear regarding the illness and am asking few questions: 1. Does she always laugh? Even when she is not talking? 2. Does she cry after saying something or without any reason? 3. Does she identify family members? 4. Does she forget recent activities? 5. Does she has any illness like hypertension, diabetes, thyroid problems? Emotional incontinence or lability is a symptoms commonly seen in organic brain syndrome. According to your history, she had stroke in february. These inappropriate laughter can be explained on the basis of that. It can be managed easily with SSRI antidepressant drugs. If you have CT scan head of your mother at the time of stroke then upload the images of it along with other reports. [or MRI brain if available] As such, these inappropriate laughter is not a serious problem but it indicates that other psychological symptoms with memory problems can occur in future, so before that we should be able to make a proper diagnosis with treatment options. I am waiting for your reply. Wish you good health.