Journal of psychiatric practice
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Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis is a newly described form of encephalitis associated with prominent psychiatric symptoms at onset. Recognition of the symptom complex is the key to diagnosis. Most patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis develop a multistage illness that progresses from initial psychiatric symptoms to memory disturbance, seizures, dyskinesia, and catatonia. ⋯ The disorder is particularly relevant to psychiatrists, because most patients are initially seen by psychiatric services. Psychiatrists should consider anti-NMDAR encephalitis in patients presenting with psychosis as well as dyskinesia, seizures, and/or catatonia, especially if there is no history of a psychiatric disorder. We present the case of a 37-year-old woman who demonstrated many of the key clinical features of this potentially treatable disorder.