When a child changes overnight, parents often describe it as a switch flipping. They report their child developing obsessive fears, motor tics, rage, or separation anxiety seemingly out of nowhere. According to Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge, a children's mental health expert with over 30 years of experience, these sudden changes may signal underlying medical conditions such as PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome), PANDAS, Lyme disease, or other neuroimmune disorders. She argues that clinicians should ask not just what diagnosis fits the symptoms, but what changed biologically to cause the dramatic shift.
Dr. Roseann will present her insights at NeuroImmune Day, a conference focused on neuroimmune health, where she will challenge clinicians to look beyond symptoms and consider how the nervous system, immune system, and brain interact. Conditions like PANS and PANDAS can trigger inflammation affecting the brain and autonomic nervous system, leading to symptoms that mimic psychiatric disorders. Researchers estimate that PANS may affect as many as 1 in 200 children, yet many healthcare professionals lack formal training in recognizing it, resulting in families spending months or years searching for answers.
Dr. Roseann emphasizes that healing begins with the nervous system, which she describes as the body's master regulator. Her clinical framework, Regulation First®, views nervous system regulation as a biological prerequisite for healing. She explains that when the nervous system remains locked in chronic survival mode, the body continues to behave as if under threat even after the original trigger resolves. This understanding is crucial for children who remain stuck despite appropriate medical and therapeutic interventions.
At NeuroImmune Day, Dr. Roseann will present "PANS/PANDAS and the Whole-Body Matrix: Why Dysregulation Isn't Just a Brain Issue," exploring how chronic nervous system activation affects immune function, sleep, gut health, vascular health, and executive functioning. She advocates for a multidisciplinary approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of these systems. For parents, she advises trusting what they see and seeking clinicians who understand the connection between the brain, immune system, and nervous system.
Dr. Roseann's forthcoming book, The Dysregulated Kid: The Parenting Playbook for Helping Your Child Find Calm in a Chaotic World, published by Page Two Books on September 22, 2026, offers practical tools based on the Regulation First® framework. The book includes strategies like the Love Pause® and CALMS Protocol® to help families understand the biology driving behavior and support nervous system regulation.
