Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41479954›Full record

ArticleCase reports in psychiatry2025

Autoimmune Psychosis Exists: Early Diagnosis of an Anti-NMDA Receptor Autoimmune Encephalitis Presenting as First-Episode Psychosis in a 25-Year-Old Male-A Case Report.

Marc Mourad, Caroline Hallal, Juliana Sargi, Elie Atallah, Anthony Kassab, Sajida Sabsaby, Christian Matta, Karine Abou Khaled, Sami Richa

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Case reports in psychiatry, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Marc MouradDepartment of Psychiatry, Psychiatric Hospital of The Cross, Jal El Dib, Maten, Lebanon.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8799-2158
Caroline HallalDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon, usj.edu.lb.
Juliana SargiDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Tours, Tours, France, univ-tours.fr.
Elie AtallahDepartment of Psychology and Social Sciences/School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, Jounieh, Lebanon, usek.edu.lb.
Anthony KassabDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon, usj.edu.lb.
Sajida SabsabyDepartment of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon, usj.edu.lb.
Christian MattaDepartment of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon, usj.edu.lb.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3487-414X
Karine Abou KhaledDepartment of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon, usj.edu.lb.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4773-6096
Sami RichaDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon, usj.edu.lb.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is an autoimmune disorder marked by prominent neuropsychiatric symptoms. It is typically first encountered by psychiatrists because psychotic symptoms can be early signs of the condition. In recent years, this form of encephalitis has been established as a distinct diagnostic entity in neurology and psychiatry. Furthermore, as an organic and autoimmune psychosis, it is considered a differential diagnosis of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders. Clinical Presentation: We report the case of a 25-year-old male who presented with a first episode of psychosis. During his stay, the patient exhibited severe cognitive deficits (disorientation, confusion, memory issues), movement disorders (dysarthria, perioral dyskinesia leading to speech difficulties), a decreased level of consciousness, and a catatonic state complicated by a malignant neuroleptic syndrome. The patient also experienced epileptic seizures and had unstable vital signs. An electroencephalogram (EEG) revealed an extreme delta brush pattern (specific for anti-NMDAR encephalitis), and CSF analysis showed an elevated immunoglobulin G (IgG) index. Based on these findings, anti-NMDAR autoimmune encephalitis was suspected 17 days after admission but not yet confirmed. The patient was treated with oral corticosteroids followed by plasmapheresis and showed significant improvement. At discharge, he was alert, oriented, cooperative, and not psychotic, with only mild cognitive defects. Days after discharge, anti-NMDAR IgG antibodies were detected in his CSF, confirming the diagnosis. Clinical Presentation: This case underscores the importance of considering anti-NMDAR autoimmune encephalitis as a differential diagnosis in patients with no personal or family psychiatric history who develop subacute psychotic symptoms (lasting less than 3 months) along with fluctuating neuropsychiatric signs. Conducting an EEG, cerebral MRI, and CSF analysis to confirm or exclude the condition, followed by early immunosuppressive treatment, is crucial for improving prognosis.

Indexed as

autoimmune diseasesearly diagnosisencephalitisextreme delta brush EEG aspectfirst episode of psychosisimmunotherapiespsychosis

Identifiers

PMID41479954
PMCPMC12754262

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