Center for Neurologic Study-Lability Scale (CNS-LS)
for pseudobulbar affect (PBA)



The CNS-LS is a short, self-administered questionnaire, designed to be completed by the patient. It provides a quantitative measure of the perceived frequency of PBA episodes and can help physicians accurately diagnose PBA. Using the scale below, click the circle under the desciptor that describes the degree to which each item applies to you DURING THE PAST WEEK.

    DATE:           TIME (24hr):      Patient Code:  


  DURING THE PAST WEEK, how often does this apply to you:

Never

Rarely

Occasionally

Frequently

Most of
the time

  1.  I find that even when I try to control my laughter,
       I am often unable to do so.
  

  

  

  

  

  2.  I find that I am easily overcome by laughter
  

  

  

  

  

  3.  There are times when I won’t be thinking of anything
       happy or funny at all, but then I’ll suddenly be
       overcome by funny or happy thoughts
  

  

  

  

  

  4.  Others have told me that I seem to become amused
       very easily or that I seem to become amused
       about things that aren’t really funny
  

  

  

  

  

  5.  I find myself crying very easily
  

  

  

  

  

  6.  There are times when I feel fine one minute, and
       then I’ll become tearful the next over something small or
       for no reason at all
  

  

  

  

  

  7.  I find that even when I try to control my crying
       I am often unable to do so
  

  

  

  

  



    

TEXT FOR YOUR RECORDS

CNSLS  maximum score = 35

A score of 13 or higher may suggest PBA

CNS-LS: Moore SR, Gresham LS, Bromberg MB, Kasarkis EJ, Smith RA.
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1997 Jul;63(1):89-93.

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          Last update:  06/19/2018