The Challenge of Integrating Care in Dual Diagnosis; Anti-NMDA-Receptor Encephalitis; Presentation And Outcome In 3 Cases Referred For Complex Specialist Rehabilitation Services.

The successful implementation of an integrated care pathway (ICP) for any given condition is a challenge. Even more challenging is successful ICP implementation for individuals who have multiple co-morbidities. This is further compounded when there are dual mental health and physical disabilities that require integrated working across multiple disciplines, specialties, institutions and organisations. Anti-NMDA-Receptor encephalitis (aNMDARe) is a relatively new diagnostic entity with patients typically presenting with significant psychiatric symptoms followed by progressive neurological deterioration. In this case series, we describe 3 cases of females with aNMDARe who were referred for complex specialist rehabilitation (CSR) to The National Rehabilitation Hospital. CSR is the total active care of patients with a disabling condition, and their families, by a multi-professional team who have undergone recognised specialist training in rehabilitation, led /supported by a consultant trained and accredited in rehabilitation medicine (RM). These services provide for patients with highly complex rehabilitation needs that are beyond the scope of local services. In these cases, referral to CSR resulted in the construction of a bespoke integrated care pathway (ICP) that transcended the barriers between primary, secondary and tertiary care and across the boundaries of physical and mental health. A care pathway is a complex intervention for the mutual decision-making and organisation of care processes Rehabilitation services acted as the coordinator of services in these cases to ensure implementation of the care plan and to ensure successful transitions of care and supported local specialist and general teams in the management of these complex cases.

Long term rehabilitation management and outcome of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis: case reports.

BACKGROUND: Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is an auto immune-disorder. It is a life threatening condition that typically presents with viral illness, headaches, severe psychiatric symptoms, seizures, behavioural changes, decreasing levels of unconsciousness and progressive unresponsiveness, cognitive impairment, abnormal movements (e.g., dyskinesia), ataxia and hypoventilation. OBJECTIVE: This paper describes the long term outcome and rehabilitation management of patients with NMDAR encephalitis and highlights the diverse outcome of this condition and the unique and individual long term management needs associated with this disorder. METHODS: This is a case report study of three different patients with NMDAR encephalitis. All three cases are young women, two of whom presented with ovarian teratoma. Patient KH is the most impaired and was resident in a slow stream rehabilitation care home and presented with challenging behaviour. Patients RM and OA both lived in the community and presented with similar anxieties but diverse levels of cognition and motivation. A review of the literature is provided summarizing the disorder, interventions, management and challenges of this varied and complex condition. Standard neuropsychological tests and questionnaires to assess community integration (BICRO-39), quality of life (QOLIBRI-OS) and mood (HADS) were administered. RESULTS: Positive outcomes were achieved for all three patients using a variety of interventions which included behavioural management, family psycho-education and an integrated holistic multi-disciplinary team community approach. Memory and executive deficits were persistent in the long term and severity of impairments showed wide variability between patients. Emotional distress and behavioural difficulties were prominent and persistent and had a pronounced impact on rehabilitation. Continence issues were also a major factor impacting on the rehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS: Long term integrated and multi-disciplinary input by a variety of therapies and health disciplines is required in order to improve the long term outcome and quality of life for NMDAR patients and their families, and ultimately leads to improved positive outcomes. Each of these cases had markedly differing cognitive profiles suggesting that in the context of long term rehabilitation outcome, cognition may have less valence than emotional and behavioural factors. Guidelines and standardised procedures for ethical issues and counselling for iatrogenic infertility should be developed and integrated into long term programmes of rehabilitation care.