Lability
Pronunciation: LAY-bil-ih-tee
Rapid, exaggerated, or unpredictable shifts in mood or emotional expression that are disproportionate to the situation.
Full Definition
Emotional lability is documented in mental status examinations and progress notes to describe a patient's affective presentation when emotions fluctuate rapidly and intensely without adequate external stimulus. It is observed in conditions such as bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, traumatic brain injury, and pseudobulbar affect. Editors should note that 'lability' and 'labile' are the accepted clinical terms; informal equivalents such as 'mood swings' are inappropriate in formal documentation. The term may also appear as 'affective lability' or 'emotional dysregulation,' each carrying slightly different clinical nuances. The adjectival form is 'labile.'
Usage
Usage note: Do not confuse with the legal/financial term 'liability.' The adjective 'labile' is used attributively: 'labile affect,' 'labile mood.'
In Context
- "The MSE recorded marked lability, with the patient transitioning from tearfulness to laughter within minutes." — Mental status examination
- "Be careful not to use the legal term 'liability' in place of the clinical term 'lability' when editing psychiatric notes." — Editorial error log