The Patient Experience of Recovery Following Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis: A Qualitative Content Analysis.

Objective: The authors examined patients' perceptions of the factors affecting their recovery from anti- N -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.