Audio-Visual Entrainment (AVE) Therapy in Reducing Symptoms of Pseudobulbar Affect (PBA): Two Case Studies
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Introduction. Pseudobulbar affect (PBA) is characterized by involuntary episodes of laughter or crying, often associated with neurological disorders, significantly impacting the quality of life. This study investigates the effectiveness of audio-visual entrainment (AVE) therapy in reducing PBA symptoms. Methods. The study employed a one-group pretest–posttest experimental design with a sample of 472 individuals from Baghdad, Iraq. Two participants diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis underwent 40 AVE sessions over 2 months using the DAVID Delight Pro device. The Center for Neurologic Study-Lability Scale (CNS-LS) was used to measure PBA symptoms before and after the intervention, with a follow-up 3 months postintervention. Results. Both participants showed significant reductions in CNS-LS scores postintervention (male: 22 to 14; female: 25 to 12), indicating decreased frequency and intensity of emotional outbursts. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed significant differences between pretest and posttest scores with a large effect size (r ≈ −0.95). Conclusion. AVE therapy effectively reduces PBA symptoms, demonstrating lasting benefits at a 3-month follow-up. This study supports AVE as a promising nonpharmacological treatment for PBA, encouraging further research on its application to other neurological conditions.
Source: NeuroRegulation
DOI: 10.15540/nr.12.1.40
Language: English
Topic: Music Therapy and Health
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4408758019