AI Article Synopsis
- The study focused on patients' views about recovery from anti-NMDAR encephalitis, highlighting key factors that influenced their healing process.
- The interviews revealed that strong support systems and effective treatments helped recovery, while challenges included mental health stigma, lack of information about the illness, and lifestyle changes due to ongoing treatment.
- The findings indicate that ongoing physical and mental challenges persist after initial treatment, suggesting a need for more education, stigma reduction, and better long-term support for patients.
Article Abstract
Objective: The authors examined patients' perceptions of the factors affecting their recovery from anti--methyl-d-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis, which is a rare, severe immune-mediated neurological disorder.
Methods: Seven patients completed semistructured interviews exploring their experience of recovery. Participants were interviewed between 7 and 41 months after the initiation of treatment. Interviews were transcribed and subjected to qualitative content analysis.
Results: Facilitators of recovery included the presence of a support system and treatment-related factors. Barriers to recovery included perceived psychiatric stigma, insufficient illness education, and lifestyle disruptions to accommodate ongoing treatment. Adverse physical, psychological, and neurocognitive sequelae of anti-NMDAR encephalitis continued to affect participants' daily functioning. Most participants described strategies to manage neurocognitive deficits, fatigue, and anxiety.
Conclusions: Anti-NMDAR encephalitis contributes to persistent burden on patients, their families, and health services after the resolution of acute symptoms. Physical, psychological, and cognitive changes contribute to long-term disease morbidity. To optimize recovery and reduce disability, further attention must be directed toward illness education, reducing stigma, and role disruption. Longer-term disability support may benefit those who do not fully recover.
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Source |
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1176/appi.neuropsych.20030049 | DOI Listing |
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