References
- Cahalan S. Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness. New York: Simon & Schuster; 2012.
- Carr D. Turning a zebra into a horse. Presented at: Social Media and Critical Care Conference, March 2019; Sydney, Australia.
- Jammoul A, Li Y, Rae-Grant A. Autoantibody-mediated encephalitis: not just paraneoplastic, not just limbic, and not untreatable. Cleve Clin J Med. 2016;83(1):43-53.
- Binks SNM, Klein CJ, Waters P, et al. LGI1, CASPR2 and related antibodies: a molecular evolution of the phenotypes. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2018;89(5):526-534.
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Explore This Issue
ACEP Now: Vol 38 – No 06 – June 2019Pages: 1 2 | Single Page
3 Responses to “Demonic Possession or Autoantibody-Mediated Encephalitis?”
May 25, 2020
JuliaFascinating. Could seemingly demonic possession be attributed to any subtype of encephalitis or does it generally relate to Seronegative Limbic Encephalitis, Non-Paraneoplastic Limbic Encephalitis, and Typical/Atypical Limbic Encephalitis?
May 28, 2020
Ryan RadeckiTo my knowledge, it pertains specifically to these NMDA receptor antibodies – and produces the clinical syndromes associated with other hallucinogenic pharmacology (e.g., Ibotenic acid in Amanita mushrooms).
August 5, 2025
PhilBut, then, you have cases like this:
https://www.indystar.com/story/news/2014/01/25/the-disposession-of-latoya-ammons/4892553/
Exorcists tend to want psychological and psychiatric conditions ruled out, but, even after that, you still have phenomrna that defy the natural. I doubt even the ability to unlock all your brain’s potential could allow a person to walk up a hospital wall, as witnessed by a nurse and case manager.