Autoimmune Psychosis as a Differential Diagnosis of Primary Schizophreniform Psychosis in Children and Adolescents.

Abstract

Objective: Autoimmune psychosis (AP), defined as an isolated schizophreniform psychosis with no or only minimal neurological abnormalities stemming from autoantibody-associated cerebral processes, is a very rare and potentially underdiagnosed disorder in children and adolescents. Methods: This article reports the case of a 13-year-old boy who became acutely ill with a psychotic disorder following a respiratory infection. We describe the diagnosis and course of treatment in detail. Results: Following an extensive interdisciplinary workup, a probable glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD)-associated AP was diagnosed that ultimately remitted completely with treatment. Conclusions: Autoimmune psychoses remain a relatively uncharted territory for the specialty of child and adolescent psychiatry. Good interdisciplinary cooperation is essential for patients with somewhat atypical psychotic symptoms, both in terms of diagnosis and treatment.