Suicidality is a common and serious feature of anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis.
We aimed to assess suicidality risk amongst people who had had anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis. All people with a definitive diagnosis of anti-NMDAR encephalitis in West China Hospital between June 2012 and February 2017 were identified and their notes were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic and clinical characteristics and risk predictors for suicidality were summarized; those with suicidality were compared to those without. 17 of 133 people (13%) presented with suicidality symptoms: 7 (5%) with suicidal ideation; 8 (6%) who attempted suicide; and 2 (1.5%) who completed suicide. Median age was 27 (16-78) years, most were female [13 (76%)]. Compared with those with no suicidality, psychiatric symptoms as the initial symptoms were more frequent in those who reported suicidality (p = 0.039); insomnia, aggression, mania, depression and delusion were also more common (p < 0.05). The use of antidepressants (p < 0.001) and recurrence of encephalitis (p = 0.020) were higher in people with suicidality than in those without. Other characteristics were not significantly different in those who had suicidality and those who did not. Suicidality is a common and potentially lethal risk for people with anti-NMDAR encephalitis. Those presenting with psychiatric symptoms as the initial symptom and with insomnia, aggression, mania, depression and delusion should be carefully screened for suicidality. Closely monitoring people who have been treated with antidepressants is necessary.
['Zhang|Le|L|', 'Sander|Josemir W|JW|', 'Zhang|Lan|L|', 'Jiang|Xin-Yue|XY|', 'Wang|Wei|W|', 'Shuang|Kun|K|', 'Abdulaziz|Ammar Taha Abdullah|ATA|', 'Wu|Meng-Qian|MQ|', 'Chi|Xiao-Sa|XS|', 'Li|Jin-Mei|JM|', 'Zhou|Dong|D|http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7101-4125']
D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D060426:Anti-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Encephalitis D002648:Child D002681:China D005260:Female D005500:Follow-Up Studies D006801:Humans D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D019964:Mood Disorders D012189:Retrospective Studies D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric D013405:Suicide D055815:Young Adult
Anti-NMDAR encephalitis Predictors Psychiatric symptom Suicidal rate