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

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.