What Condition Does the Joker Have?

THE JOKER’S CONDITION DOES EXIST!

The movie Joker is a very interesting movie, I actually watched it 6 times. I mean it’s really a great movie with a truly amazing actor. The movie seems to blame mental illness for the crimes the Joker committed. However, the movie does not portray mental illness correctly. Most people who are mentally illness are more likely to harm themselves rather than to harm others. But I guess these kinds of movie sells and crossed $1Billion globally.

About three weeks ago I was asked Is the condition that causes continuous laughter in the movie “Joker” a real condition?  Unfortunately it does exist. One must remember that this condition is painful for the person suffering from it, these outbursts of laughter are uncontrollable even with tremendous efforts to stop it.

The movie Joker never names what specific illnesses that the joker has been diagnosed with. However, these symptoms or fits of uncontrollable laughter are based on an actual disorder called the Pseudobulbar Affect, or PBA.

In the above photo you can see that the Joker is clearly in pain from these uncontrollable fits of laughter.

The condition causes bursts of uncontrollable laughing or crying and usually manifests in people who have ALS, MS, neurological conditions or traumatic brain injuries.

These episodes can go on for minutes at a time and can cause embarrassment, social isolation, distress and depression.

Scientific Research: Scientists believe that pseudobulbar affect may result from damage to the prefrontal cortex, the area of your brain that helps control emotions. Damage to other parts of the brain as well as changes in brain chemicals linked to depression and hyper moods (mania) could also play a role.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this movie.