The COVID-19 pandemic and children with PANS/PANDAS: an evaluation of symptom severity, telehealth, and vaccination hesitancy

O’Dor, S.L., Zagaroli, J., Belisle, R. et al. The COVID-19 pandemic and children with PANS/PANDAS: an evaluation of symptom severity, telehealth, and vaccination hesitancy. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-022-01401-z

  • Assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children with PANS/PANDAS
  • A majority of respondents endorsed a negative impact on their child’s friendships, relationships with extended family, hobbies, and academic skills due to the pandemic
  • Children with suspected or diagnosed COVID-19 experienced new or worsened psychiatric symptoms, particularly mood lability, OCD, and anxiety
  • Telehealth care was the preferred treatment modality if the child had mild symptoms of PANS/PANDAS
  • Caregivers experienced a high level of burn-out both before and during the pandemic, and thus this should continue to be an area of inquiry and appropriate intervention by providers
  • Data suggest an overall negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children with PANS/PANDAS and their caregivers.

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