Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections and pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome.

In the mid-1990s, researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health identified a link between recent streptococcal infection and the development of neuropsychiatric symptoms such as separation anxiety, tics, behavioral regression, rage, restricted eating, and obsessive–compulsive disorder. Research has found that in pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS) and pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS), exposure to an infection or other agent that activates the immune system creates an immune response that goes awry, causing autoantibodies (or immune cells) to attack brain cells instead. PANDAS and PANS are complex neurological disorders, and their medical impact is significant. Educators should be aware that PANDAS and PANS may have a significant impact on a student’s attendance. This chapter discusses etiology, prevalence and incidence, symptoms, and outcomes of PANDAS and PANS. It presents the psychoeducational implications and school-based interventions organized by medical management, cognitive/academic functioning, and social–emotional and behavioral functioning. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)