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December 2020

Predictors and Prospective Course of PANS: A Pilot Study Using Electronic Platforms for Data Collection

Predictors and Prospective Course of PANS: A Pilot Study Using Electronic Platforms for Data Collection

Conclusion: Our study highlights the utility of electronic methods for tracking longitudinal symptoms in children with PANS and suggests that particular baseline characteristics (e.g., delay in identification and treatment of PANS, greater caregiver burden) may be indicative of a differential trajectory of PANS course, with more severe symptoms over the short term. clinicaltrials.gov NCT04382716.

Elizabeth C. Harris, Christine A. Conelea, Michael T. Shyne, and Gail A. Bernstein.Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology. http://doi.org/10.1089/cap.2020.0124
2020 Year in Review
December 28, 2020
2020 Year in Review

Despite the challenges of 2020, we are proud to report that the ASPIRE community continues to grow in size, support, and strength. We are grateful to all of you for your contributions: the...

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Category:  Blog, Featured on Homepage
Prevalence of PANS in Child Prevalence of pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) in children and adolescents with eating disorders Adolescent Eating Disorders
Prevalence of PANS in Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders
Marya Aman, Jennifer Coelho, BoyeeLin, Cynthia Lu, Shannon Zaitsoff, John Best and S. Evelyn StewartBC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia
“Conclusion
  •  The surprisingly high lifetime PANS rate of 52% within pediatric ED were higher than that previously reported for OCD populations. The large majority had abrupt onset of parent- reported OC symptoms as well as abrupt food restriction.
  • Those in the PANS group were more likely to be female, be prescribed an SSRI, and have parent reported abrupt OC symptom onset, abrupt food refusal, relapsing and remitting course, and concurrent anxiety, depression, irritability or aggression, behavioural regression, school deterioration, and sleep problems, enuresis, and/or frequent urination.
  • This appears to be a distinct subgroup that requires further characterization with respect to functional impacts and management approaches.”
Infections, inflammation, and risk of neuropsychiatric disorders: the neglected role of “co-infection”

Infections, inflammation, and risk of neuropsychiatric disorders: the neglected role of “co-infection

AmirAbdoli, AliTaghipour, MajidPirestani, Mirza AliMofazzal Jahromi, AbazarRoustazadeh, HamedMir, Hoda MirzaianArdakani, AzraKenarkoohi, ShahabFalahi, MahdiKarimi. Infections, inflammation, and risk of neuropsychiatric disorders: the neglected role of “co-infection. Heliyon Vol 6, Issue 12, Dec 2020, e05645. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05645

Abstract: Neuropsychiatric disorders (NPDs) have multiple etiological factors, mainly genetic background, environmental conditions and immunological factors. The host immune responses play a pivotal role in various physiological and pathophysiological process. In NPDs, inflammatory immune responses have shown to be involved in diseases severity and treatment outcome. Inflammatory cytokines and chemokines are involved in various neurobiological pathways, such as GABAergic signaling and neurotransmitter synthesis. Infectious agents are among the major amplifier of inflammatory reactions, hence, have an indirect role in the pathogenesis of NPDs. As such, some infections directly affect the central nervous system (CNS) and alter the genes that involved in neurobiological pathways and NPDs. Interestingly, the most of infectious agents that involved in NPDs (e.g., Toxoplasma gondii, cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus) is latent (asymptomatic) and co-or-multiple infection of them are common. Nonetheless, the role of co-or-multiple infection in the pathogenesis of NPDs has not deeply investigated. Evidences indicate that co-or-multiple infection synergically augment the level of inflammatory reactions and have more severe outcomes than single infection. Hence, it is plausible that co-or-multiple infections can increase the risk and/or pathogenesis of NPDs. Further understanding about the role of co-or-multiple infections can offer new insights about the etiology, treatment and prevention of NPDs. Likewise, therapy based on anti-infective and anti-inflammatory agents could be a promising therapeutic option as an adjuvant for treatment of NPDs.