title: Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis: psychiatric presentation and diagnostic challenges from psychosomatic medicine perspective.
abstract: We describe two cases of confirmed anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis; one patient initially presented with a clinical picture that resembled delirium and later appeared to present with a conversion reaction and the second patient presented with a first psychotic break followed by the clinical picture of neuroleptic malignant syndrome with catatonia. Neither patient had a previous history of psychiatric illness or recreational drug use. These cases illustrate the diagnostic and treatment challenges associated with this neuropsychiatric condition and underscore the role of psychosomatic medicine psychiatrists in diagnosing anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis.
authors.affiliation: Fellow, Psycho Oncology, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Nataliya A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Gulyayeva
authors.affiliation: Attending Psychiatrist, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Mary Jane
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Massie
authors.affiliation: Attending Psychologist, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Katherine N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Duhamel
mesh_terms: D060426:Anti-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Encephalitis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D002389:Catatonia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D003693:Delirium / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D059906:Neuroimaging; D011611:Psychosomatic Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000276:immunology*; D012640:Seizures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate