Anti-NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor encephalitis often presents itself in psychiatric settings as first-break psychosis. I present a case of a 31-year-old female who returned to the clinic one year after being treated for NMDA receptor antibody encephalitis.

Ms. C is a 31 y/o female who returned to the clinic after one year of being discharged from the hospital for NMDA-receptor encephalitis with positive serological NR1 antibodies. She was initially admitted to our inpatient psychiatric facility for an unspecified psychotic disorder complicated with seizure-like episodes. She was given various psychotropic medications without any improvement. She was moderately responsive to olanzapine and lorazepam. Her condition gradually worsened; she stopped communicating and became mute. Neurology consultation prompted work-up for encephalitis and the probable diagnosis of NMDA receptor encephalitis. She was subsequently treated with steroids, IVIG and then intrathecal rituximab and bortezomib. In addition to these aforementioned medications, she underwent a prophylactic oophorectomy and 10 ECT treatments for life threatening catatonia. After three weeks of this regimen, Ms. C recovered completely and was discharged home.

This case adds to literature that suggests prompt diagnosis and management of NMDA receptor encephalitis significantly improves prognosis. Treatment should be initiated if the patient meets probable diagnostic criteria for NMDA receptor encephalitis. Similar to other cases in the literature, our patient’s symptom of catatonia improved with ECT administration. During Ms. C one year follow-up, no evidence of psychotic symptoms were appreciated. Family members reported that she had returned to her baseline cognitive function.