Pediatric clinical and psychopathological aspects of anti-NMDA receptor and glutamate decarboxylase autoimmune encephalitis

Autoimmune encephalitides (AE) are a diverse group of diseases characterized by different etiological and clinical features, with pathogenesis involving immunological damage to the brain’s protein structures. Diagnosing patients with AE who present with mental disorders poses significant challenges. Epidemiological data show an increasing prevalence of AE. In certain subtypes of AE, especially those that manifest during childhood, there are reports of initial presentations that consist solely of psychopathological symptoms. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding AE in children, outlines diagnostic criteria and psychopathological features based on both international and Russian literature.