What is it about?

We followed patients with autoimmune encephalitis at two major academic centers in NYC and Toronto for psychiatric disorders and symptoms using standardized scales years after initial treatment. At a median of 4 years after treatment, we found that half of these patients were diagnosed with mood disorder and 1/3rd had higher mood disorders. A history of psychiatric disorder was associated with increased likelihood of having mood disorder diagnosis.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

The study findings suggest that about half of the patients with autoimmune encephalitis continue to suffer from mood symptoms years after initial treatment. Patients had different subtypes of autoimmune encephalitis. About only 1/3rd of patients with mood symptoms were getting psychiatric treatment. This suggests that a large number patients with this conditions continues to struggle from psychiatric symptoms major being mood symptoms and only a minority are receiving treatment suggesting need for close psychiatric follow up.

Perspectives

In this study we followed subjects with autoimmune encephalitis for psychiatric disorders using standardized scales at a median of 4 years after treatment. Patients with autoimmune encephalitis are at an increased risk of psychiatric disorders, with mood disorder being the most common disorder. In addition, those with a history of psychiatric disorder prior to autoimmune encephalitis were at most risk and may need closer follow up.

Palak Patel
JFK University Medical Center, Hackensack Meridian Health

Autoimmune encephalitis (AE) is increasingly recognized not only for its acute neurological manifestations but also for its profound long-term psychiatric consequences. Survivors often experience persistent mood disorders, anxiety, psychosis, or personality changes that can endure years after the initial illness. These psychiatric outcomes are frequently underrecognized, partly because they may overlap with cognitive deficits or social reintegration challenges. From a clinical standpoint, this underscores the need for multidisciplinary follow-up care that integrates neurology, psychiatry, and rehabilitative services. Early psychiatric assessment and tailored interventions—such as psychotherapy, cognitive rehabilitation, or pharmacotherapy—may improve functional recovery and quality of life. Furthermore, understanding individual variability, including autoantibody profiles and the extent of brain inflammation, could guide prognosis and personalized treatment strategies. Finally, longitudinal research is essential to map trajectories of psychiatric symptoms in AE survivors. Addressing long-term psychiatric outcomes holistically can help reduce the social and occupational impact of AE, ensuring that patients regain not only neurological function but also emotional and social well-being. Ahmed Tofik Ali Web of science reasercher https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/rid/AAO-7223-2020 Web of Science ResearcherID: AAO-7223-2020 ORCiD: 0000-0001-7966-7219

Medical plants curing COVID-19, HIV and all Virus Related Deasese Ahmed Tofik Ali

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Long-Term Psychiatric Outcomes of Autoimmune Encephalitis, Journal of Neuropsychiatry, April 2025, American Psychiatric Association,
DOI: 10.1176/appi.neuropsych.20240122.
You can read the full text:

Read

Resources

Contributors

The following have contributed to this page