It is a condition whereby the limbic regions of the brain become inflamed and cease to function properly. It predominantly affects the medial temporal lobes (hippocampus, amygdalae) and orbitofrontal cortex, which are areas involved in memory, learning and emotional regulation.
Causes of Limbic Encephalitis include:
Infectious encephalitis – caused by direct attack of the limbic regions by a virus.
Autoimmune encephalitis – caused by one’s own immune system reacting against parts of the limbic system. Some cases are associated with cancer while some are not.
The psychiatric team works very closely with the neurological team to provide optimal care for patients with Limbic Encephalitis. In addition to the standard medication/treatment that the neurologists may give to dampen down the immune system (immunosuppressant including steroids, immunoglobulin and plasma exchange), psychiatrists help with the management of psychiatric symptoms with the use of antidepressants, antipsychotics and mood stabilisers.
Click here to access our Find A Doctor directory for a list of doctors treating this condition across our NUHS institutions.
