Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections, PANS, Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome, Childhood Acute Neuropsychiatric Symptoms
Defining PANDAS
PANDAS is one of the most studied topics in modern psychology and mental health. At its core, pandas involves a specific cluster of experiences — cognitive, emotional, and physical — that have been consistently identified across cultures and research populations.
Psychologists define pandas using diagnostic criteria that have been refined over decades of clinical and empirical work. The core features include recognizable patterns that distinguish pandas from related but distinct conditions.
Signs That Indicate PANDAS
According to the NIMH, PANDAS can be diagnosed in pre-pubertal children (between the ages of 3 and 12, generally) if the following symptom criteria are met: Whether or not a child has been exposed to strep bacteria can be determined via lab testing. However, the presence of strep is not enough to warrant a PANDAS diagnosis, and there is no definitive test to determine whether or not a child has PANDAS. If a child displays sudden, dramatic symptoms of OCD or tics, in addition to a positive strep test, a doctor may make a PANDAS diagnosis; they may, however, withhold a diagnosis as they search f
Who Does PANDAS Affect?
PANDAS affects people across all demographics, though certain factors can increase vulnerability:
- Age: Can emerge at any life stage; some forms peak in specific age groups
- Biology: Genetic predisposition plays a role for many types of pandas
- Environment: Life experiences, stress, and social factors contribute significantly
- Co-occurring conditions: PANDAS often appears alongside other psychological conditions
The Spectrum of PANDAS
Like most psychological phenomena, pandas exists on a spectrum. Mild experiences are part of normal human life. The concern arises when pandas is persistent, intense, and interferes with daily functioning — work, relationships, or basic self-care.
Clinicians assess severity by looking at duration (how long), frequency (how often), and impairment (how much it affects daily life).
When to Seek Help
Consider professional support if pandas:
- Persists for more than a few weeks
- Interferes with work, school, or relationships
- Causes significant distress
- Involves thoughts of self-harm
Getting Help for PANDAS
To treat PANDAS, the NIMH emphasizes, the underlying strep infection must be treated. In many cases, this can be accomplished with a single course of antibiotics. More serious strep infections may require a longer course of treatment or multiple courses of antibiotics. Once the strep has been treated, PANDAS symptoms will typically start to fade, the NIMH reports, though they may take a few months to disappear altogether. To prevent strep reinfection, parents should discard toothbrushes and sterilize other objects that go into a child’s mouth. Testing siblings for strep may also be a good idea