Neuroimmune-driven abrupt neuropsychiatric symptoms in children: preventing pathological fear consolidation (opens in new tab)

Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) is defined by an abrupt onset of neuropsychiatric symptoms, traditionally viewed through the lens of obsessive-compulsive behaviors. However, it is also characterized by a state of extreme fear. While medical management addresses the biological triggers, this period creates a high-stakes emergency in human fear-learning that remains unaddressed by standard protocols. The current gold standard, exposure and response prevention (ERP), is th...