Quote:
https://mghocd.org/ocd_pandas/Massachusetts General Hospital
Harvard Medical School" . . . P.A.N.D.A.S., or Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections. . . "
" . . . a subset of kids who develop acute-onset OCD with notable tic and motor symptoms. In the prototypical P.A.N.D.A.S. case, a child suddenly begins exhibiting OCD-like behaviors. Over the course of a few days or weeks, a previously asymptomatic child can become functionally incapacitated by his/her new obsesssions, compulsions, and noted motor tics. This rapid-onset condition can be very scary for families, and most parents don’t know where to turn for treatment. . . "
" . . . The PANDAS hypothesis is based on the notion that an infection may be causing rapid-onset OCD. Most commonly, a child’s strep throat (which may be so subtle it goes undetected) turns into a debilitating autoimmune condition. . . "
One study found that approximately 50% of children with rapid-onset OCD probably had PANDAS, meaning about 50% did not. Other doctors remain skeptical about the whole thing. Basically the theory is that it is the antibodies to strep, and not the strep itself, which attack the brain's basal ganglia.
And so far, yes, they've only looked at this in children. But this might also affect adults. In fact, it could be analogous to autism in which the initial research focus is overwhelmingly on children.
11 Jun 2013, 12:24 pm
