Vyshedskiy Andrey, Conkey Anna, DeWeese Kelly, Junghanns Frank Benno, Adams James B, Frye Richard E
Metropolitan College, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
Neuroimmune Foundation, Saint Augustine, FL 32084, USA.
Pediatr Rep. 2025 Jul 28;17(4):81. doi: 10.3390/pediatric17040081.
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to validate a new parent-reported scale for tracking Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS). PANS is a condition characterized by a sudden and severe onset of neuropsychiatric symptoms. To meet diagnostic criteria, an individual must present with either obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or severely restricted food intake, accompanied by at least two additional cognitive, behavioral, or emotional symptoms. These may include anxiety, emotional instability, depression, irritability, aggression, oppositional behaviors, developmental or behavioral regression, a decline in academic skills such as handwriting or math, sensory abnormalities, frequent urination, and enuresis. The onset of symptoms is usually triggered by an infection or an abnormal immune/inflammatory response. Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS) is a subtype of PANS specifically linked to strep infections.
We developed a 101-item PANS/PANDAS and Related Inflammatory Brain Disorders Treatment Evaluation Checklist (PTEC) designed to assess changes to a patient's symptoms over time along 10 subscales: Behavior/Mood, OCD, Anxiety, Food intake, Tics, Cognitive/Developmental, Sensory, Other, Sleep, and Health. The psychometric quality of PTEC was tested with 225 participants.
The internal reliability of the PTEC was excellent (Cronbach's alpha = 0.96). PTEC exhibited adequate test-retest reliability ( = 0.6) and excellent construct validity, supported by a strong correlation with the Health subscale of the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist ( = 0.8).
We hope that PTEC will assist parents and clinicians in the monitoring and treatment of PANS. The PTEC questionnaire is freely available at neuroimmune.org/PTEC.
背景/目的：本研究的目的是验证一种新的由家长报告的用于追踪儿童急性起病神经精神综合征（PANS）的量表。PANS是一种以神经精神症状突然严重发作为特征的疾病。要符合诊断标准，个体必须出现强迫症（OCD）或严重受限的食物摄入，并伴有至少另外两种认知、行为或情绪症状。这些症状可能包括焦虑、情绪不稳定、抑郁、易怒、攻击性、对立行为、发育或行为倒退、书写或数学等学业技能下降、感觉异常、尿频和尿床。症状的发作通常由感染或异常的免疫/炎症反应引发。儿童自身免疫性神经精神障碍伴链球菌感染（PANDAS）是PANS的一种亚型，特别与链球菌感染有关。
我们开发了一份包含101个条目的PANS/PANDAS及相关炎症性脑疾病治疗评估清单（PTEC），旨在沿着10个分量表评估患者症状随时间的变化：行为/情绪、OCD、焦虑、食物摄入、抽动、认知/发育、感觉、其他、睡眠和健康。对225名参与者测试了PTEC的心理测量质量。
PTEC的内部信度极佳（克朗巴哈系数α = 0.96）。PTEC表现出足够的重测信度（ = 0.6）和出色的结构效度，与《孤独症治疗评估清单》健康分量表有很强的相关性（ = 0.8）支持这一点。
我们希望PTEC将有助于家长和临床医生对PANS的监测和治疗。PTEC问卷可在neuroimmune.org/PTEC上免费获取。
