Rewiring the Brain: The Hidden Impact of Inflammation in Kids with PANS/PANDAS

What happens when conventional treatments fall short? In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Peggy Chapman, a seasoned psychiatric nurse practitioner, dives deep into the complexities of treating children with PANS and PANDAS. She shares clinical insights on psychiatric medications, supplement interactions, diagnostic challenges, and how to compassionately navigate the chaos of neuroinflammation with both families and practitioners.

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In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Peggy Chapman, a psychiatric nurse specialist, joins us to share her decades-long expertise treating children and young adults with complex neuropsychiatric symptoms. We explore the inflammatory roots of PANS/PANDAS and how cytokines disrupt dopamine and serotonin pathways, resulting in tics, rage, depression, and even memory loss. Peggy also breaks down the neurobiological impact of inflammation on the basal ganglia and why this changes everything about how psychiatric medications work—or don’t—in these patients.

Our conversation also explores the pitfalls of supplement fatigue, the dangers of polypharmacy without guidance, and the emotional toll this condition takes on caregivers. Peggy emphasizes the need for individualized care, clinical curiosity, and community support. Through stories, humor, and clinical pearls, she paints a hopeful yet grounded path forward for families—and shares how she’s built her new PAN Center to train the next generation of informed practitioners.

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Peggy Chapman is a board-certified clinical nurse specialist in child and adolescent psychiatric nursing with over four decades of experience in mental health care. She has worked across inpatient and outpatient psychiatry, psychopharmacology, and therapy for children, teens, and adults, building a reputation as a pioneering voice in treating PANS and PANDAS.

Since treating her first PANDAS patient in 1999, she has become a passionate advocate, educator, and clinician in this emerging field. She co-led the Asperger's Association of New England parent support group for over a decade and currently serves as medical advisor for the New England PANS/PANDAS Association. In 2024, she founded the PAN Center in Massachusetts, a groundbreaking clinic dedicated to comprehensive care, professional training, and research support for PANS/PANDAS.

Known for her blend of scientific rigor and deep compassion, Peggy is on a mission to mentor the next generation of practitioners while helping families navigate the maze of psychiatric medications, immune challenges, and complex neuroinflammation with clarity and confidence.

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Website: https://panscenter.org/

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