Article Text
Summary
Neuronal autoantibodies targeting cell surface antigens have been described in association with autoimmune encephalitides which frequently feature psychosis and other psychiatric disturbances alongside neurological signs and symptoms. Little has been written however about the long-term psychiatric status of individuals following recovery from the acute phase of autoimmune encephalitis, despite case series and anecdotal evidence suggesting this may be a cause of considerable disability. Here, we describe a man aged 58 years with no psychiatric history who developed a severe and acute psychotic disorder following resolution of a protracted course of limbic encephalitis associated with antibodies to leucine-rich glioma inactivated 1 protein. No indications of a gross ongoing inflammatory or encephalopathic process were present at presentation of his psychosis. Possible aetiologies of his acute psychosis are discussed. This case highlights the importance of ongoing psychiatric follow-up of patients following an episode of autoimmune encephalitis.
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Footnotes
Contributors Patient care and follow-up was under the care of NM, who conceived the case report. TP wrote the first draft of the report, produced the figures and liaised with the patient and family.
Funding Wellcome Trust. Grant number (105758/Z/14/Z).
Competing interests None declared.
Patient consent Obtained.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.