Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 24, 2026
Intracerebroventricular and Intravascular Injection of Viral Particles and Fluorescent Microbeads into the Neonatal Brain
Published on: July 24, 2016
Neuropsychiatric sequelae in sporadic viral encephalitis
Suprakash Chaudhury1, Prashant Bhardwaj2, Tahoora Ali1
1Department of Psychiatry, Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College, Dr. D Y Patil Vidyapeeth, Pimpri, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
Background:
Though sporadic cases of viral encephalitis are not uncommon in our country, there is a lack of prospective studies on the course and outcome of its neuropsychiatric complications.
Aim:
To study the neuropsychiatric sequelae in patients with sporadic viral encephalitis.
Materials And Methods:
A prospective longitudinal study evaluated 34 consecutive cases of presumed viral encephalitis hospitalized during 1 year. A physician and a psychiatrist examined patients during recruitment and as and when necessary after that. Details of clinical presentation, investigation results, functional outcomes, and neurological and psychiatric sequelae at the time of discharge and follow-up were noted.
Results:
Patients with viral encephalitis presented with varied clinical presentation. Out of 34 patients, 11 (32.5%) died during hospitalization. After recovery from acute illness, 18 (52.94%) patients had moderate functional disability, while five (14.71%) had good functional recovery. Among survivors, a high proportion of neuropsychiatric sequelae were observed even after recovery from the acute phase. Neurological sequelae were seen in 12 (35.29%) patients, which included extrapyramidal symptoms, seizures, hemiparesis, diabetes insipidus, deafness, truncal ataxia, and lateral rectus palsy. In comparison, psychiatric sequelae were seen in 15 (44.12%) patients and included organic amnesic syndrome, anxiety, depression, heaviness of the head, frontal headache, aggression, and emotional lability. All of these sequelae improved over 6 months of follow-up.
Conclusion:
There is a high rate of neuropsychiatric sequelae in survivors of acute viral encephalitis, but most of these improve over some time with or without treatment. The high rates of psychiatric sequelae in an already difficult-to-diagnose condition such as encephalitis make it very prone to diagnostic dilemmas, resulting in delayed management. It is essential to be vigilant for these sequelae and their prompt management by improving liaison with a psychiatrist.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Disorders of the Nervous Tissue
Homeostatic Imbalances:
Alzheimer's disease manifests as a gradual decline in memory and cognitive abilities, attributed to the buildup of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain.
Parkinson's disease arises from the...
01:13Seizures: Classification
Seizures are typically classified into two main categories: focal and generalized seizures.
Focal Seizures
Focal seizures originate from specific regions of the brain. These seizures are further sub-classified into two types:
01:24Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
01:27Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within...
01:20Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein
SV2A is a transmembrane glycoprotein located predominantly in the brain, modulating the release of neurotransmitters for neuronal communication. Both levetiracetam and brivaracetam exhibit a high affinity for...
01:21Aneurysm II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies