Jon Matthew Farber, MD

Published in European Journal of Paediatric Neurology

Investigators examined the validity and clinical feasibility of using a questionnaire developed in Denmark to screen youngsters for pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS) and pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS). They determined that the questionnaire is effective not only for this screening but for assessing symptom severity as well as for evaluating comorbidity and daily life impairment associated with PANDAS/PANS.

The PANDAS/PANS questionnaire is based on symptoms and comorbidities described in the literature and is a self-report completed by parents of children younger than 18. The questionnaire has 3 sections: 1) symptom screening, which consists of 27 questions about mental, physical, and social issues along with motor symptoms; 2) 11 general yes-or-no questions about the course of the disease and family health history; and 3) questions about the severity of symptoms and impairment in the patient’s daily life.

To validate the questionnaire, investigators correlated the results of 119 PANDAS/PANS questionnaires from 65 children who have the condition with the results of 3 well-known validated questionnaires that measure some of the same symptoms as the PANDAS/PANS questionnaires. They found not only a strong internal consistency in the new questionnaire but also high correlations between PANDAS/PANS items and domains paired with the validated questionnaires. Results of the study also suggest that the PANDAS/PANS questionnaire is reliable with regard to questions about obsessive-compulsive disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. And because the questionnaire was answered during all phases of the disease—reflected in a wide range of symptom severity—the questionnaire may be used in patients who have mild or severe symptoms.

THOUGHTS FROM DR FARBER

The questionnaire was developed based on a very homogeneous group and needs to be verified in a more diverse sample. However, it can still be useful as part of a diagnostic process, as well as for monitoring progress. The authors provide the complete questionnaire in the article.

Reference:

Bleibach A, Sørensen CB, Skov L, Christensen KB, Debes NM. Reliability and validity of a newly developed PANDAS/PANS questionnaire. Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2024;52:109-130. doi:10.1016/j.ejpn.2024.07.008