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Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis: Psychiatric presentation and diagnostic challenges from psychosomatic medicine perspective

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 November 2013

Nataliya A. Gulyayeva ,
Mary Jane Massie  and
Katherine N. Duhamel
Nataliya A. Gulyayeva*
Affiliation:
Fellow, Psycho Oncology, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases, New York, New York
Mary Jane Massie
Affiliation:
Attending Psychiatrist, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases, New York, New York
Katherine N. Duhamel
Affiliation:
Attending Psychologist, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases, New York, New York
*
Address correspondence and reprint request to: Nataliya Gulyayeva, Center for Behavioral Health, Florida Hospital Orlando, 1685 Lee Road, Suite 100, Winter Park, FL 32789. E-mail: [email protected]
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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.

Keywords

NMDA receptorteratomadeliriumneuroleptic malignant syndromepsychosomatic medicine
Type
Case Study
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 12 , Issue 2 , April 2014 , pp. 159 - 163
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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References

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