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Review
. 2020 Sep-Oct;61(5):456-466.
doi: 10.1016/j.psym.2020.04.017. Epub 2020 Apr 29.

Anti-NMDAR Encephalitis: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Identification of the Disorder and Management of Psychiatric Symptoms

Anique Forrester  1 , Samantha Latorre  2 , Pamela K O'Dea  3 , Charles Robinson  2 , Eric Luria Goldwaser  2 , Adam Trenton  4 , Anthony Tobia  4 , Rehan Aziz  4 , Survandita Dhawan  4 , Andrew Brennan  4 , Mohan Kurukumbi  5 , Yu Dong  2 , David R Benavides  3 , Ada Ibe Offurum  6
Affiliations
Review

Anti-NMDAR Encephalitis: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Identification of the Disorder and Management of Psychiatric Symptoms

Anique Forrester et al. Psychosomatics. 2020 Sep-Oct.

Abstract

Background: The novelty of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, for which somatic treatments have only recently been developed, has led to a lack of information on assessment and treatment of its variable behavioral manifestations.

Method: In this article, we discuss 4 challenging cases of anti-NMDAR encephalitis, focusing on the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to identification and management of the disorder and the necessity of close collaboration in the acute hospital setting for management of the behavioral symptoms.

Conclusion: The cases we discuss highlight some of the medication and nonpharmacologic treatment strategies that may facilitate management of psychiatric symptoms, both while the medical workup is ongoing and after the diagnosis has been confirmed.

Keywords: anti-NMDAR; collaborative; encephalitis; multidisciplinary; psychiatric.

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Conflict of interest statement

None of the authors have any conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1 –
Fig. 1 –
EEG Tracings Case #1
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
EEG Tracings Case #2
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
EEG Tracings Case #2
Fig 3.
Fig 3.
Brain MRI Case #3 Abnormal FLAIR signal within the sulci of the left cerebral hemisphere with associated cortical restricted diffusion and edema
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Brain MRI Case #4
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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