July 2, 2019
PANDAS on Beacon Hill
Parents push for coverage, awareness of rare syndrome. Local families grappling with a rare and elusive syndrome will make the case for greater acknowledgement and support at the State House...
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.
June 28, 2019
Infection, Inflammation, & Mental Health – Mapping the Intersections – Frankovich, MD
Infection, Inflammation, & Mental Health - Mapping the Intersections Jennifer Frankovich MD, MS, Stanford University Friday, June 28,...
June 28, 2019
What Parents Should Know About Infections and Mental Health
After infections, some children are misdiagnosed with mental health conditions. A reality of trauma and many other mental health problems is the complexity of causes. This means that sustainable...
June 27, 2019
Study Links Eating Disorders to Childhood Infections
Results of the population-based study, published in JAMA Psychiatry, found that infections that required hospitalization or treatment with anti-infective medications, such as antibiotics, antifungals...
June 21, 2019
A Parents’ Guide to PANDAS, PANS, and Related Neuroimmune Disorders
The book covers key symptoms including OCD, tics, anxiety, sensory issues and personality changes, with practical advice on medical management, nutrition, lifestyle, and addressing social and...
June 19, 2019
Living with Lyme: Neurofeedback and Biofeedback for PANS/PANDAS
Cindy Kennedy, FNP, is joined by Lyme-literate psychologist Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge, who developed the 360 degree Reboot Intensive Therapy Program. It has proven to be a valuable treatment options...
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.
June 6, 2019
Pandas and Pans-How the Immune System Affects the Brain Podcast
In this episode, Janeen speaks with Dr. Roseann Capanna Hodge, a specialist in the field of how our brains and bodies are...
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...