affective_dysfunction

Affective Dysfunction

Definition: Affective dysfunction refers to impairments in the ability to regulate, express, or experience emotions appropriately. It encompasses a range of emotional disturbances, including blunted affect, emotional lability, inappropriate affect, and emotional dysregulation.

Affective dysfunction may manifest as:

  • Blunted or flat affect – reduced emotional expressiveness.
  • Emotional lability – rapid, exaggerated changes in mood.
  • Inappropriate affect – emotions incongruent with the situation or context.
  • Irritability or explosive emotional responses – seen in some neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders.

Affective dysfunction is commonly observed in:

  • Mood disorders (e.g., major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder)
  • Schizophrenia spectrum disorders
  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
  • Frontal lobe lesions
  • Cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome (CCAS)

Key brain regions involved include:

  • Prefrontal cortex – particularly the orbitofrontal and ventromedial areas
  • Amygdala – emotion processing and reactivity
  • Anterior cingulate cortex – emotional awareness and response
  • Cerebellum – especially in CCAS, highlighting its role in “dysmetria of thought” and emotional modulation
  • Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI)
  • Affect Rating Scales (e.g., PANSS for schizophrenia)
  • Clinical interviews focusing on affective range, appropriateness, and lability

Management depends on the underlying cause and may include:

  • Pharmacotherapy – antidepressants, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics
  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
  • Neurorehabilitation – especially in acquired brain injury or neurodegenerative conditions
  • affective_dysfunction.txt
  • Last modified: 2025/07/10 13:36
  • by administrador