PANS/PANDAS
When Your Child Changes Almost Overnight
Some children experience sudden, dramatic changes in mood, behavior, anxiety, eating patterns, sleep, attention, or functioning. For families, it can feel like their child changed overnight—and many are left searching for answers.
Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) and Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS)
At Wild Ember Psychiatry & Therapy, we specialize in evaluating and supporting children with suspected PANS/PANDAS and related neuroimmune presentations. Our approach is thoughtful, comprehensive, and collaborative, looking beyond symptoms to better understand what may be contributing to your child’s sudden changes.
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What Are PANS and PANDAS?
PANS and PANDAS are conditions in which a child may develop sudden-onset psychiatric, behavioral, or neurological symptoms that appear to be associated with immune system activation, infection, inflammation, or other medical triggers.
These symptoms may be mistaken for anxiety, OCD, ADHD, depression, behavioral problems, or defiance—especially when the onset is sudden and intense.
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Signs Parents May Notice
Children with PANS/PANDAS may experience sudden or significant changes such as:
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New or worsening OCD symptoms
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Severe anxiety or panic
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Emotional outbursts or irritability
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Sudden separation anxiety
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Restrictive eating or food fears
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Tics or unusual movements
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Sleep disruption
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Regression in behavior or functioning
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Decline in handwriting or school performance
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Sensory sensitivity
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Urinary frequency
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Hyperactivity or impulsivity
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Mood swings
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Depression or withdrawal
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Our Approach
We understand that these cases are complex and often require looking at the whole child—not just one diagnosis.
Our evaluation may include:
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Detailed psychiatric assessment
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Review of symptom onset and timeline
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Medical and developmental history
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Family history
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Infection and immune-related history
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Review of prior labs, records, and treatment response
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Collaboration with pediatricians, specialists, therapists, and other providers when appropriate
Our goal is to help families clarify what may be contributing to symptoms and create a treatment plan that supports stability, healing, and improved functioning.
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At Wild Ember, we do not dismiss sudden behavioral changes as “just behavior.” We help families explore what may be underneath the symptoms and guide next steps with compassion and clinical expertise.
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Specialized PANS/PANDAS Support
PANS and PANDAS cases are often complex and may require coordination between psychiatric, medical, and therapeutic providers.
Wild Ember Psychiatry & Therapy partners with several different medical providers to provide collaborative care for children with suspected or diagnosed PANS/PANDAS. Together, we help families navigate evaluation, treatment recommendations, symptom management, and ongoing support while maintaining continuity of care across providers.
This collaborative model allows us to address both the emotional and behavioral symptoms children experience while ensuring families have access to specialized medical expertise when appropriate.
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You Are Not Overreacting
Parents often know when something is different.
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If your child’s symptoms appeared suddenly, worsened rapidly, or feel out of character, it may be worth exploring whether PANS/PANDAS or another underlying medical or neuroimmune process could be playing a role.
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We are here to help you make sense of what is happening and support your child’s path forward.​​
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Expanding PANS/PANDAS Care at Wild Ember
Over the past several years, Ashleigh has had the privilege of working with children and families affected by Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) and Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS)-complex neuroimmune conditions that are often misunderstood and difficult to diagnose.
Through collaboration, continued education, and an integrative approach to care, she has seen firsthand the profound impact that timely recognition and appropriate treatment can have on a child's quality of life. Ashleigh has had many families come to her after seeking answers for years and now are getting appropriate care, feel heard and seen.
As the number of families seeking this specialized care continues to grow, so does our commitment to serving them. Many families travel long distances, experience lengthy wait times, or struggle to find providers familiar with these complex neuroimmune conditions.
By investing in advanced specialized training, mentorship, and ongoing education, our goal is to provide the highest quality, evidence-informed care for children and families affected by PANS and PANDAS. We are committed to learning from nationally recognized experts and receiving continued guidance to ensure our clients benefit from the most current knowledge and best practices.
PANS and PANDAS are complex neuroimmune conditions that require extensive specialized education beyond traditional medical training. Unfortunately, insurance reimbursement does not reflect the additional time, resources, or advanced training required to care for these patients, making the cost of pursuing this level of education significant. Your support helps us continue expanding our expertise so we can bring more specialized care to Arizona families.
If you believe in this mission and would like to support the continued growth of PANS/PANDAS services at Wild Ember, we invite you to contribute to our education initiative. Every contribution helps us pursue advanced training, expert consultation, and the development of resources that directly benefit the children and families we serve.
Thank you for being part of our journey as we continue working to improve access to compassionate, specialized care for our community.