BIAA’s PBA Voices Campaign Shines a Light on Pseudobulbar Affect

Fairfax, VA – The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) has relaunched an awareness campaign to shine a light on Pseudobulbar affect (PBA), an often misunderstood and misdiagnosed neurological condition that can affect people with brain injuries. This year’s campaign highlights the symptoms of PBA through the promotion of an interactive PBA self-assessment and self-advocacy toolkit on our PBA Voices website.

Is it depression, anxiety, or PBA? PBA is a neurological condition secondary to traumatic brain injury and other conditions such as stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis that causes sudden, frequent, uncontrollable crying, and/or laughing that does not match how the person feels.

Through BIAA’s PBA Voices campaign, brain injury survivors have shared their stories and offered support to those who live with PBA.

“What I want other brain injury survivors and those who are struggling with PBA to know is… We really do need each other,” said Barbara from New York. “It’s true; my friends have saved my life on an occasion or two. Being a TBI Warrior isn’t easy and so, it’s vital that we are surrounded by the right people.”

PBA is often misdiagnosed, sometimes as depression or anxiety. It may be hard to find a clinician who understands PBA or to get insurance coverage for the right treatment, which is why we have developed a free self-advocacy toolkit, which includes:

• An overview of PBA, including signs and symptoms
• PBA Episode Journal
• Center for Neurologic Study-Lability Scale
• Fact sheets on how to talk with health care providers, insurance companies, and navigating prescription drug coverage
• Sample complaint letter to send to your state’s insurance commissioner, if you feel you are being treated unfairly
• Tips on how to live with and care for someone with PBA

In addition to a free toolkit, PBA Voices features a helpful, interactive quiz for individuals who believe they may have PBA.

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About the Brain Injury Association of America:

The Brain Injury Association of America is the country’s oldest and largest nationwide brain injury advocacy organization. Our mission is to advance awareness, research, treatment, and education and to improve the quality of life for all people affected by brain injury. We are dedicated to increasing access to quality health care and raising awareness and understanding of brain injury.