What is PANDAS / PANS?
Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated with streptococcus (PANDAS) and pediatric neuropsychiatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) are terms that refer to a syndrome that onsets during childhood.
In PANDAS / PANS, the immune system’s over-reactivity to infections or other triggers results in the abrupt (within 24 to 48 hours) production of neurobehavioral symptoms, which may include obsessions and compulsions, anxiety, food restriction, tics, irritability, behavioral regression, sleep disturbance, impulsivity, changes in handwriting, aggression, or emotional lability. The course of these symptoms is sudden, severe, and episodic. With proper diagnosis and a combination of medical and mental health care, PANDAS / PANS can be successfully treated.
Treatment of PANDAS / PANS
The underlying infection causing symptoms in PANDAS / PANS is typically treated with antibiotic medications, while some physicians also prescribe prophylactic antibiotics to prevent recurrent episodes. Other medications or procedures may also be considered.
CEH clinicians work in collaboration with knowledgeable physicians and provide psychoeducation and evidence-based treatment of the presenting symptoms, such as exposure and response prevention (ERP / ExRP) for OCD, cognitive behavioral intervention for tics (CBIT) and other cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT).