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Gabriella True

Association of Streptococcal Throat Infection With Mental Disorders Testing Key Aspects of the PANDAS Hypothesis in a Nationwide Study

Sonja Orlovska, MD; Claus Høstrup Vestergaard, MS; Bodil Hammer Bech, PhD; Merete Nordentoft, DrMed; Mogens Vestergaard, PhD; Michael Eriksen Benros, PhD
JAMA Psychiatry-2017

The findings reported in this research study represent one of the largest retrospective studies conducted to date on the association between streptococcal infections and PANDAS. Children with a previously positive streptococcus test had an 18% higher risk of any mental disorder, 51% higher risk of OCD, and 35% higher risk of tic disorders, which are diagnostic criteria for PANDAS. Study findings support the association of streptococcal and non-streptococcal infections in the diagnosis of pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome.

Bidirectional relationship between eating disorders and autoimmune diseases
Hedman A, Breithaupt L, Hübel C, Thornton LM, Tillander A, Norring C, Birgegård A, Larsson H, Ludvigsson JF, Sävendahl L, Almqvist C, Bulik CM. Bidirectional relationship between eating disorders and autoimmune diseases. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2019 Jul;60(7):803-812. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.12958. Epub 2018 Sep 3. PMID: 30178543.

Conclusions: The interactions between EDs and autoimmune diseases support the previously reported associations. The bidirectional risk pattern observed in women suggests either a shared mechanism or a third mediating variable contributing to the association of these illnesses.

Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) treatment associated with parent management training (PMT) for the acute symptoms in a patient with PANDAS syndrome: a case report
Guido CA, Zicari AM, Duse M, Spalice A. Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) treatment associated with parent management training (PMT) for the acute symptoms in a patient with PANDAS syndrome: a case report. Ital J Pediatr. 2019 Jun 26;45(1):74. doi: 10.1186/s13052-019-0667-1. PMID: 31242942; PMCID: PMC6595549.
Conclusions: Following eight sessions of EMDR, preceded by training sessions with the parents, the child showed a significant reduction in symptoms and disappearance of the exacerbation. These results indicate the possibility of improving the treatment outcomes of patients with PANDAS by a combined approach using both antibiotic and EMDR therapies.
Kind World
June 4, 2019
Kind World

A sweet story of mystery gifts given to a PANS PANDAS family. “They were not alone”. Andrea Asuaje Reporter/Producer, Kind World, is a reporter and producer in WBUR’s iLab, where...

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