Biological Perspectives: Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis.

Purpose: This article explores the recently recognized anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, which may produce psychiatric symptoms.

Conclusions: Historically, some patients presenting for psychiatric care may have actually been suffering from anti-NMDA encephalitis; thus, awareness of this disorder may facilitate appropriate treatment.

Treatment Implications: Early diagnosis and aggressive treatment promote better outcomes.

Biological perspectives: pain: it's not all in your head.

Neuroanatomy correlates with the psychological changes of pain. Neuroplastic transformation appears in the reduction of gray matter volume, or shrinkage in the top-down cortical areas vital for working memory, problem solving, sequencing and discrimination of different information and cognitive modulation of pain via the descending pain modulatory tracts and control over other cortical areas involved in the emotional perception of pain. These latter areas become more active,thereby intensifying the susceptibility to negative affect associated with pain (Geha & Apkarian, 2006).