Home/About/Sources & references
Sources & references
Every clinical claim on this site is sourced. We use the published consensus guidelines, government health information, and peer-reviewed research that PANS-literate clinicians rely on. Citations in the text link here.
How we use these sources
Where a claim involves a diagnostic criterion, a recommended test, or a treatment approach, we cite it directly to the consensus guidelines (Chang 2015, Thienemann 2017, Frankovich 2017, Cooperstock 2017, AAP 2025). We use parent-reported survey data (Moleculera 2018) when discussing diagnostic delays. We use organizations like the PANDAS Physicians Network, ASPIRE, and PANDAS Network for provider directories and family resources, not as sources for clinical claims.
Diagnostic & treatment guidelines
(6)Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated With Streptococcal Infections: Clinical Description of the First 50 Cases
Swedo SE, Leonard HL, Garvey M, Mittleman B, et al.
American Journal of Psychiatry, 155(2):264-271, February 1998
https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/ajp.155.2.264Used for
Original PANDAS diagnostic criteria, the relapsing-remitting course, sudden onset following strep infection.
Clinical Evaluation of Youth with Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS): Recommendations from the 2013 PANS Consensus Conference
Chang K, Frankovich J, Cooperstock M, Cunningham M, Latimer E, Murphy T, Pasternack M, Thienemann M, Williams K, Walter J, Swedo S.
Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 25(1):3-13, February 2015
https://www.pandasppn.org/jcap2015/Used for
The PANS diagnostic framework, sudden-onset hallmark, red flag symptom categories, recommendation to request strep titers.
Clinical Management of Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome: Part I - Psychiatric and Behavioral Interventions
Thienemann M, Murphy T, Leckman J, Shaw R, Williams K, Kapphahn C, Frankovich J, Geller D, Bernstein G, Chang K, Elia J, Swedo S.
Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 27(7):566-573, September 2017
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1089/cap.2016.0145Used for
Treatability of PANS, three-pronged treatment approach, psychiatric and behavioral management.
Clinical Management of Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome: Part II - Use of Immunomodulatory Therapies
Frankovich J, Swedo S, Murphy T, Dale RC, et al.
Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 27(7):574-593, September 2017
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1089/cap.2016.0148Used for
Immunomodulatory treatment options (corticosteroids, IVIG, plasmapheresis) for moderate-to-severe PANS.
Clinical Management of Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome: Part III - Treatment and Prevention of Infections
Cooperstock MS, Swedo SE, Pasternack MS, et al.
Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 27(7):594-606, September 2017
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36358106/Used for
Antibiotic recommendations, strep titer testing (ASO, Anti-DNase B), infection prevention.
Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS): Clinical Report
Hudak ML, et al., American Academy of Pediatrics
Pediatrics, 155(3):e2024070334, March 2025 · DOI: 10.1542/peds.2024-070334
https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/155/3/e2024070334/200384/Pediatric-Acute-Onset-Neuropsychiatric-SyndromeUsed for
Definition of PANS as an umbrella term, family-centered multidisciplinary approach, the fact that the AAP only published its first clinical report in 2025.
Government & academic
(2)PANS and PANDAS: Questions and Answers
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/pandasUsed for
Plain-language overview of PANDAS, history of the syndrome's identification by Dr. Susan Swedo at NIMH.
Stanford Children's Immune Behavioral Health (IBH) Clinic - PANS Program
Stanford Medicine
Multidisciplinary PANS program established 2012; one of the leading research and treatment centers for PANS in the United States.
https://med.stanford.edu/pans.htmlUsed for
Multidisciplinary care model, immune behavioral health framing, published research.
Parent-led & advocacy organizations
(3)PANDAS Physicians Network (PPN)
Organization of clinicians treating PANS and PANDAS
Provider directory, guidelines repository, professional education
https://www.pandasppn.org/Used for
Find-a-provider directory, host of the consensus guidelines, professional resources.
ASPIRE - Alliance to Solve PANS and Immune-Related Encephalopathies
Parent-led nonprofit advocacy organization
Awareness, education, family support, legislative advocacy
https://aspire.care/Used for
Family support resources, school nurse and educator packets, legislative toolkits.
PANDAS Network
501(c)(3) parent-founded organization
Family resources, awareness, research support
https://pandasnetwork.org/Used for
Family resources, treating-strep guidance, parent community.
Surveys & supporting research
(2)Parent survey: diagnostic journey in PANDAS/PANS
Moleculera Labs (unpublished parent survey, n=1,000+)
Survey conducted 2018; widely referenced in patient advocacy literature
https://www.moleculera.com/pans-diagnosis/Used for
Quantifying diagnostic delays: up to 12 providers seen and three years before diagnosis.
This is an industry-funded survey, not a peer-reviewed study; we cite it because parent-reported diagnostic delay data is scarce.
Clinical Guidance for Group A Streptococcal Pharyngitis
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Federal clinical guidance on strep testing accuracy and asymptomatic carrier rates
https://www.cdc.gov/group-a-strep/hcp/clinical-guidance/strep-throat.htmlUsed for
Asymptomatic strep carrier rate (10–15% of healthy children), rapid antigen test false negative rate (15–20%).