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Updated: Dec 30, 2025
Induction and Diverse Assessment Indicators of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
Published on: September 9, 2022
Autoimmune Encephalitis
1Dr. Zandi is with the Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom, and with the National Institute for Health Research, University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre. Address correspondence to Dr. Zandi at the UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square House, Queen Square, London, United Kingdom.
Autoimmune encephalitis, particularly anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antibody encephalitis, presents with neurological and psychiatric symptoms. These conditions are increasingly recognized and treatable with immunosuppression.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Psychiatry
- Neurology
Background:
- Antibodies targeting brain cell-surface proteins are linked to neurological and psychiatric disorders.
- These autoimmune conditions often respond to immunosuppressive therapies.
- This has spurred significant growth in the field of autoimmune encephalitis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review common autoimmune encephalitis syndromes, focusing on those relevant to psychiatry.
- To highlight N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antibody encephalitis and its psychiatric manifestations.
- To discuss recognition, diagnosis, associations, and disease mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on autoimmune encephalitis.
- Focus on syndromes with psychiatric relevance, especially N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antibody encephalitis.
- Discussion of clinical presentation, diagnosis, and underlying mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Autoimmune encephalitis encompasses syndromes with overlapping neurological and psychiatric symptoms.
- N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antibody encephalitis frequently presents with psychosis and cognitive changes mimicking first-episode psychosis.
- These conditions are increasingly recognized and linked to specific antibodies.
Conclusions:
- Autoimmune encephalitis is an expanding field with significant psychiatric implications.
- Early recognition and diagnosis are crucial for effective immunosuppressive treatment.
- Understanding disease mechanisms is key to improving patient outcomes.
