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.
Clinical Presentation
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.
Associated 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)
Neuroanatomical Correlates
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
Assessment Tools
- Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI)
- Affect Rating Scales (e.g., PANSS for schizophrenia)
- Clinical interviews focusing on affective range, appropriateness, and lability
Treatment Approaches
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