PANS/PANDAS

Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS): first described in 2012

Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections (PANDAS): a subtype of PANS, and first described in 1998

See My Treatment Approach here

Overview of treatment guidelines development, diagnostic information and the 3-pronged approach to treatment
Selected books and peer-reviewed journal articles.
Updates: Ongoing.
Specialists from a variety of fields speaking about PANS / PANDAS.
Updates: Ongoing.
Youtube videos, Webinars and Documentaries about PANS / PANDAS from specialists and families.
Updates: Ongoing.
Information, resources and advocacy. Facebook groups and websites.
Updates: Ongoing.
Clinical observations and what I've learned from working with my clients.
Updates: Ongoing.
PANS Diagnostic Hierarchy. Swedo et al. (2012).
PANS Diagnostic Criteria. From Swedo et al. (2012).

Above images contain information from: Swedo, Leckman & Rose (2012) From Research Subgroup to Clinical Syndrome: Modifying the PANDAS Criteria to Describe PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome).

Research suggests a child with genetic predisposition for PANS experiences a virus that overwhelms the immune response, and enters the brain. Research disagrees on whether its an autoimmune response or 'cytokine storm' in the brain. Both cause inflammation: The quick, non-specific innate immune response triggers a PANS "flare" with acute-onset of symptoms, potentially within hours. The backup, long-term, specific adaptive immune response is exaggerated and maintains the 'flare'. This disrupts the basal ganglia functioning, causing psychiatric and neurological symptoms. Medical treatment is essential: see the Treatment Guidelines.

Immune response = inflamed brain and personality change

Effects of Basal Ganglia Inflammation by Margo Thienemann. pandasppn

Rating/Recording PANS symptoms

ASPIRE Collection of measures for diagnosis and tracking.

PANS Rating Scale by Dr Tanya Murphy and Dr Gail Bernstein. Direct link to PDF.