Preventive Measures for Childhood-Onset Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Tic Disorders (PANDAS Subgroup)

Launched by NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH (NIMH) · Nov 3, 1999

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether penicillin prevents the symptoms of Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD) and tic disorders from recurring in children with

Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcus (PANDAS).

A subgroup of children with childhood-onset OCD and/or tic disorders share a common clinical course characterized by dramatic onset and symptom exacerbations following scarlet fever or strep. throat infections. Such infections may be prevented by the prophylactic (preventative dose) administration of antibiotics, such as penicillin. ...

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• INCLUSION CRITERIA:
• • 1. Ages 4 - 18 years
• 2. Fulfill criteria for membership in the PANDAS subgroup:
• • 1. Presence of OCD and/or tic disorder
• • 2. Prepubertal symptom onset
• • 3. Abrupt onset and episodic (relapsing-remitting) symptom course
• • 4. Association between symptom exacerbations and GABHS infections
• • 5. Presence of choreiform movements or other neurological abnormalities during symptom exacerbations.
• • Because "time to relapse" is one of the primary outcome variables, children will not be eligible for randomization until their symptoms are in (at least partial) remission. At the time of randomization, symptom severity scores should be less than 50% of the child's previous maximum score on both the CY-BOCS and YGTSS, and no higher than a total score of 20 on the CY-BOCS or 30 on the YGTSS.
• EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
• • 1. Personal history of penicillin allergy
• • 2. History of rheumatic fever, including Sydenham's chorea
• • 3. Diagnosis of autism, schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder
• • 4. Chronic illnesses, particularly neurologic and immunologic disorders