Keywords
Autoimmune, encephalitis, pseudodementia
Date of Presentation
5-1-2025 12:00 AM
Poster Abstract
Patients with autoimmune encephalitis frequently present with psychiatric symptoms including psychosis, behavioral changes, and affective disorders. Because of this, misdiagnosis of a primary psychiatric disorder in a case of autoimmune encephalitis is not uncommon. We present a case of autoimmune encephalitis in a 72 year old who was initially thought to have psuedodementia or catatonia due to variable collateral who later on LP was found to have markers and responded to steroid treatment. This case highlights the importance of maintaining a broad differential with patients who present with psychiatric alterations and to consider other causes of behavioral change.
Disciplines
Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms | Diagnosis | Immune System Diseases | Internal Medicine | Medicine and Health Sciences | Nervous System | Nervous System Diseases | Psychiatric and Mental Health | Psychiatry | Therapeutics
Included in
Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms Commons, Diagnosis Commons, Immune System Diseases Commons, Internal Medicine Commons, Nervous System Commons, Nervous System Diseases Commons, Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons, Psychiatry Commons, Therapeutics Commons
Autoimmune Encephalitis Presenting as Pseudodementia (Case Report)
Patients with autoimmune encephalitis frequently present with psychiatric symptoms including psychosis, behavioral changes, and affective disorders. Because of this, misdiagnosis of a primary psychiatric disorder in a case of autoimmune encephalitis is not uncommon. We present a case of autoimmune encephalitis in a 72 year old who was initially thought to have psuedodementia or catatonia due to variable collateral who later on LP was found to have markers and responded to steroid treatment. This case highlights the importance of maintaining a broad differential with patients who present with psychiatric alterations and to consider other causes of behavioral change.
