16.5 Autoimmune Encephalopathy: What a Child Psychiatrist Should Know

As child and adolescent psychiatrists, we are often the first clinicians to evaluate patients who present with new onset psychosis. The diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis must be included in the differential diagnosis for patients with an acute onset of personality changes, cognitive decline, and sensory perceptual disturbances. This presentation will outline key principles that the practicing child and adolescent psychiatrist should become familiar with in the evaluation and management of autoimmune brain disorders.