When Mental Illness Isn’t Mental: How Tick-Borne Infections Masquerade as Psych Disorders

What if mental health conditions had a hidden infectious link? Join us in this episode of the Demystifying PANS/PANDAS Podcast as Dr. Shannon Delaney shares her journey from psychiatry to investigating infectious causes of neuropsychiatric illness, with a focus on Bartonella and other tick-borne infections. We also discuss groundbreaking research, testing strategies, and the clinical clues practitioners should never ignore.----In this eye-opening conversation, I speak with psychiatrist and researcher Dr. Shannon Delaney about her groundbreaking work linking Bartonella and other tick-borne infections to severe psychiatric symptoms. Dr. Delaney shares how she uncovered startling connections between infections and conditions like psychosis, anorexia, OCD, and rage, often in patients previously dismissed with conversion disorder or unexplained mental illness. She details her landmark study showing Bartonella DNA in 43% of adults with psychosis, compared to just 13% of healthy controls, and unpacks why traditional testing often misses these cases.This episode dives deep into clinical presentation, diagnostic pitfalls, treatment strategies, and the layered role of coinfections like Babesia, Borrelia, and Brucella. Dr. Delaney explains why some patients respond dramatically to antibiotics or herbals, and why others require a comprehensive, multi-system approach. Whether you're a clinician or a parent, this conversation offers vital insights into a new frontier of infectious psychiatry—and hope for healing where traditional medicine falls short.----Dr. Shannon Delaney is a respected leader in the diagnosis and treatment of complex neuropsychiatric illnesses, with a special focus on Lyme disease and tick-borne infections affecting the brain.As Director of Child and Adolescent Evaluation at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center’s Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center, Dr. Delaney blends cutting-edge research with compassionate care, offering hope and answers to families navigating the often-overlooked neurological impact of chronic infections.Her expertise lies in identifying infection-triggered neuropsychiatric symptoms in children and young adults, including those linked to Lyme disease, Bartonella, and PANS/PANDAS. With a background in both neurology and psychiatry, she approaches each case with a uniquely holistic lens, combining medical insight with a deep commitment to her patients' long-term recovery.Through clinical work, research, and education, Dr. Delaney is a driving force in raising awareness about the intersection of infectious disease and mental health. Her work continues to inspire clinicians, researchers, and families alike to advocate for better diagnostics, treatment, and understanding.----LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-delaney-2a0a559b/----Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drohara.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/drnancyohara/⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/nhoharamd/⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-o-hara-md-mph-faap-390781258/⁠⁠⁠----PODCASTThank you for listening. Please subscribe and share.This podcast is produced by DrTalks.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/