Clinical Management of Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome: Part I–Psychiatric and Behavioral Interventions
Thienemann M, Murphy T, Leckman J, et al. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology. July 2017, ahead of print. https://doi.org/10.1089/cap.2016.0145
This useful review of Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Syndrome Associated with Streptococcal Infection (PANDAS) and its broader variant Paediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) describes the complex variety of neuropsychiatric issues that may be associated with streptococcal infections. These include well-known obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and less well-recognised problems such as tics, frequent urination, attention-deficit disorder symptoms, handwriting difficulties, poor cognitive and physical stamina, difficulties with math and processing speed, memory issues, eating disorder symptoms and pain. Part II of the series (Frankovich J, 2017) from which it comes describes the use of immunomodulatory therapies and Part III (Cooperstock M, 2017) describes the treatment and prevention of associated infections.