Do Neuronal Autoantibodies Cause Psychosis? A Neuroimmunological Perspective

In the last decade, autoantibodies targeting proteins on the neuronal surface and that are believed to be directly pathogenic have been described in patients with autoimmune encephalitis. Since then, new antigenic targets have been discovered, and new clinical phenotypes have been recognized. The psychotic disorders are one example of this expanding spectrum. Here, we consider the defining criteria of antibody-mediated central nervous system disease and the extent to which the psychiatric data currently satisfy those criteria. We discuss the implications these findings have for our understanding, nosology, and treatment of psychiatric disorders.