A Case Report on Schizophrenia with Autoimmune Encephalitis

Abstract

Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness with a high death rate and significant societal implications. Curative treatments are not available due to a lack of understanding of its etiopathogenesis. The mild encephalitis hypothesis of schizophrenia, established primarily by Karl Bechter and Norbert Müller, is one of the new research hypotheses. According to this theory, a significant subset of schizophrenia patients suffers from a mild but persistent form of encephalitis caused by a variety of etiology ranging from viral infections to traumas to autoimmune illnesses. This inflammatory method is believed to occur in the start or during the course of the disease. The authors present case of a 65-year-old female got admitted in female psychiatric ward AVBR Hospital Sawangi Meghe, Wardha Maharashtra with chief complaint of forgetfulness, interest in environment decline, unable to communicate, poor performance at work, muttering to self, sleep disturbance, seeing people which are not seen other, fearfulness. all necessary investigation done, in mental status examination founded impairment in memory, disorientation cognitive function impairment, RBC count 3.82, WBC count 5300, Hb% 12, calcium 8.1, urea 26, creatinine 0.6, sodium 142, potassium 4.0. Alkaline phosphate 89. HIV, HBSAG non-reactive, A large number of white blood cells in the CSF An MRI that reveals evidence of brain inflammation. There was a slight increase in antinuclear antibody (1: 40 titer). Blood and CSF were positive for oligoclonal bands. The patient was received symptomatic treatment antianxiety, antipsychotic drug alleviates hallucinations and delusion.  Disturbances of consciousness and orientation, catatonia, speech dysfunction, focal neurological signs, epileptic seizures/EEG abnormalities or autonomic dysfunction are warning signs in psychiatric patients which should always induce cerebrospinal fluid analysis with determination of antineuronal autoantibodies. Currently established immunotherapy strategies are summarised, taking into account international expert advice. Guided by clinical warning signs, our qualitative review enables rapid and reliable diagnosis of definite autoimmune encephalitis. This is of high relevance for the affected individuals, since early and sufficiently intense immunotherapy often leads to a good prognosis despite severe illness.