Abstract
Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor encephalitis is a recently described autoimmune/paraneoplastic condition that commonly presents with psychiatric symptoms. Often this delays the initial diagnosis until more classical symptoms develop, with seizures, decreased consciousness, dyskinesias, autonomic instability and hypoventilation. As awareness of the condition has grown, the incidence of reported cases has risen. We present a case of a 19-year-old female who was receiving treatment in a psychiatric hospital for psychiatric symptoms and was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with reduced level of consciousness and aspiration pneumonia. She was subsequently diagnosed with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis. The management and treatment of the case is described and the literature on anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis reviewed, with particular attention to the aspects pertinent to providing intensive care for these patients.