RecruitingNot Applicable

Neurobiologic, Immunologic, and Rheumatologic Markers in Youth With PANS

United States500 participantsStarted 2013-03

Plain-language summary

This study is an investigation of the neurologic, immunologic, and rheumatologic markers of Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS). PANS is a condition characterized by the abrupt, dramatic onset of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and/or eating restriction accompanied by equally abrupt and severe co-morbid neuropsychiatric symptoms, which include anxiety, emotional lability, depression, irritability, aggression, oppositionality, deterioration in school performance, behavioral (developmental) regression, sensory amplification, movement abnormalities, sleep disturbance, and urinary frequency. PANS is thought to be caused by infection, inflammation, or alternate triggers that is associated with a brain response that leads to these symptoms. The purpose of this study is to examine specific neurologic, immunologic, rheumatologic, and genomic, components in children with the acute-onset of psychiatric symptoms. This research may begin to uncover a much larger story of autoimmune processes that are involved in psychiatric disorders of childhood. By better understanding the etiologic components of psychiatric phenomenon, future treatments may be better targeted to underlying causes.

Who can participate

Age range

4 Years – 18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion criteria

. Age 1-18 at onset of PANS
. Diagnosis of PANS: abrupt onset of OCD or food restriction, and at least two of the following associated symptoms: frequent urination, worsening handwriting/cognition, inattention, anorexia, separation anxiety, oppositionality, irritability/rage outbursts, and emotional lability.
. Patients must live within 90 miles of Stanford University and have a new onset of PANS illness
. Patients must have an established pediatrician within 90 miles of Stanford University for 3 years.
. Age 4-18
. No psychiatric diagnosis

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Cerebral blood flow

Timeframe: Through study completion, up to 12 years

EEG patterns

Timeframe: Through study completion, up to 12 years

Rapid Eye Movement (REM) motor disinhibition

Timeframe: Through study completion, up to 12 years

Trial details

NCT IDNCT02889016

SponsorStanford University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2028-03

Contact for this trial

Joanne Cheung

pansresearch@stanford.edu

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome trials

Plain-language summary

Who can participate

Age range

4 Years – 18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion criteria

. Age 1-18 at onset of PANS
. Diagnosis of PANS: abrupt onset of OCD or food restriction, and at least two of the following associated symptoms: frequent urination, worsening handwriting/cognition, inattention, anorexia, separation anxiety, oppositionality, irritability/rage outbursts, and emotional lability.
. Patients must live within 90 miles of Stanford University and have a new onset of PANS illness
. Patients must have an established pediatrician within 90 miles of Stanford University for 3 years.
. Age 4-18
. No psychiatric diagnosis