ABSTRACT NUMBER: ESOC2026A2220 CLINICAL FEATURES AND LESION LOCALIZATION OF ORGANIC EMOTIONAL LABILITY AFTER ISCHEMIC STROKE

Abstract Background and aims Organic emotional lability (OEL) is a common but often underrecognized affective complication of ischemic stroke, characterized by mood instability, unmotivated crying, irritability, and increased emotional reactivity. These disturbances negatively affect quality of life and rehabilitation outcomes. OEL has been associated with damage to specific brain regions; however, its clinical characteristics and symptom dynamics remain insufficiently explored. Methods Eighty patients aged 45–75 years with first-ever ischemic stroke were included. Organic emotional lability was assessed using the PLACS scale, along with HADS and MMSE. Clinical and neurological examinations and brain MRI were performed to determine lesion localization. Symptom dynamics were evaluated over a 30-day period. Statistical analysis included correlation analysis and χ2 testing, with p<0.05 considered significant. Results Signs of organic emotional lability were identified in 60% of patients.The most common symptoms were unmotivated crying, sudden mood swings, and irritability. OEL was significantly more frequent in patients with lesions involving the frontal lobes and basal ganglia (p<0.05). Patients with OEL demonstrated significantly higher anxiety and depression scores on the HADS scale compared with patients without-OEL (p<0.01).During the 30-day follow-up, most patients showed partial or marked improvement in emotional symptoms, while a minority demonstrated persistent or worsening affective disturbances. Conclusions Organic emotional lability is a common post-stroke complication, particularly associated with frontal lobe and basal ganglia lesions.It is accompanied by increased anxiety and depressive symptoms and may negatively affect rehabilitation.Early identification and targeted management of emotional lability should be integrated into comprehensive post-stroke-care to improve functional recovery and quality of life. Conflict of interest Nothing to disclose