The psychiatric symptoms of rheumatic fever

Objective: This study examined the frequency and age at onset of psychiatri c disorders among children with rheumatic fever, Sydenham's chorea, or both and a comparison group. Method: Twenty children With rheumatic fever, 22 with Sydenham's chorea, an d 20 comparison children were assessed by means of a semistructured intervi ew and rating scales for tic disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Results: Obsessive-compulsive symptoms were more frequent in both the Syden ham's chorea and rheumatic fever groups than in the comparison group. The S ydenham's chorea group had a higher frequency of major depressive disorder, tic disorders, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) than bo th the comparison and rheumatic fever groups. ADHD symptoms were associated with a higher risk of developing Sydenham's chorea. Conclusions: Both the rheumatic fever and Sydenham's chorea groups were ass ociated with a higher risk of developing neuropsychiatric disorders than th e comparison group. ADHD appears to be a risk factor for Sydenham's chorea in children with rheumatic fever.