Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39396904›Full record

ArticleAustralian occupational therapy journal2025

Relationships between sensory reactivity and occupational performance in children with paediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS).

Michelle J Newby, Shelly J Lane, Kirsti Haracz, Janice Tona, Kerrin Palazzi, David Lambkin

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Australian occupational therapy journal, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Michelle J NewbyStepping Stones Therapy for Children, The Junction, NSW, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-3072-8663
Shelly J LaneOccupational Therapy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, School of Health Sciences, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
Kirsti HaraczOccupational Therapy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, School of Health Sciences, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
Janice TonaRehabilitation Science Department, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA.
Kerrin PalazziHunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia.
David LambkinHunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionPaediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting children's performance in a fluctuating manner. This study investigates the relationship between sensory reactivity and occupational performance in children with PANS during exacerbation phases. Understanding these relationships is crucial for developing tailored interventions and managing the condition effectively.

methodsThis study is part of a larger project in which a two-period bidirectional case-crossover design was employed to assess sensory reactivity and occupational performance in children with PANS. The current study used data from exacerbation phases only. Parents of children aged 4.6 to 13.1 years with PANS were recruited globally, and data were collected via online surveys. The Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scale (VABS) evaluated occupational performance, and the Sensory Processing Measure (SPM) assessed sensory reactivity. Analysis utilised Pearson correlation to determine the relationships between sensory reactivity and occupational performance domains.

resultsData from 60 participants who completed the SPM and 21 who completed the VABS showed moderate to strong negative correlations between the SPM total and several domain scores (vision, hearing, body awareness, balance, and motion) and the VABS Communication and Daily Living Skills scores, indicating that increased sensory reactivity is associated with decreased occupational performance during exacerbations. No significant correlation was found between sensory reactivity and socialisation skills.

conclusionFindings highlight the significant relationship between sensory reactivity and occupational performance during PANS exacerbations, particularly in communication and daily living skills domains. Further research is needed to examine factors influencing socialisation skills and to assess the effectiveness of sensory interventions in improving occupational performance. CONSUMER AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT STATEMENT: Although there was no direct consumer and community involvement, two researchers on our team have family members with PANS. Their personal experiences provided vital insights into the challenges faced by children with PANS, deeply influencing our study's design, focus, and interpretation, ensuring it reflects the realities of those affected. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: We examined the relationship between children's daily activities and their sensory reactivity during PANS symptom flare-ups. Parents of children aged 4.6 to 13.1 years completed surveys measuring sensory reactivity and their children's performance of daily tasks. Our findings showed that during symptom flare-ups, children experienced significant difficulties with communication and daily living skills. These challenges were directly related to heightened sensory reactivity during flare-ups. This highlights the importance of providing targeted occupational therapy during these times to help children manage their symptoms and improve their daily functioning.

Indexed as

Occupational TherapyActivities of Daily LivingAdolescentAutoimmune DiseasesChildChild, PreschoolCross-Over StudiesFemaleHumansMaleObsessive-Compulsive DisorderSensationoccupational performancepaediatric acute‐onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS)paediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS)paediatric mental healthpaediatric occupational therapysensory processingsensory processing measuresensory reactivityVineland Adaptive Behaviour Scale

Identifiers

PMID39396904
PMCPMC11650007

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.