Current Understanding and Approach to Delusional Infestation

Delusional infestation: an interface with psychiatry

“…The majority of people with delusional infestation do not present to psychiatrists (Foster 2012). Instead, they present to general practitioners, dermatologists, physicians, otolaryngologists and/or ophthalmologists with complaints of infestation of the skin and/or different parts of the body, including the ear, eye and gastrointestinal tract, wanting the alleged organisms to be identified and eliminated (Moriarty 2019). When tests proved negative, patients continue to demand more investigations to validate their beliefs.…”

“…Anger and resentment towards professionals are common (Hinkle 2011) and some accuse their doctors of incompetence when they fail to identify the parasites or pathogens that the patient believes are present. Most patients move between practitioners/specialists (doctor shopping) (Moriarty 2019) and are eventually lost to follow-up as they become increasingly frustrated and subsequently lose faith in the healthcare system.…”

“…In these cases, a ‘do no further harm’ principal should be followed. Palliative interventions to alleviate symptoms, such as sedating or non-sedating antihistamines for sleep disturbances or pruritus, topical steroids and emollients, can be offered even though they do not alter the course of the disease (Moriarty 2019). Use of unnecessary medications such as antimicrobial agents and anthelmintic treatment is discouraged and unnecessary repeated testing should be avoided as this does not usually add clinical value (Hylwa 2011).…”

Ekbom Syndrome: A Case Report

“…Delusional infestation was first described in 1937 as "pre--senile delusion of infestation" by Dr. Karl -Axel Ekbom, a Swedish neurologist. 1 Delusional parasitosis (DP) is a somatic type of delusional disorder, usually mono--symptomatic, in which the patient is convinced of being infested with animal parasites (usually insects or worms), and rarely viruses and bacteria, while no objective evidence to support their belief exists. 2,3 The disorder is most frequently seen in middle -aged, often socially isolated, women (average age is 57 ± 14 years).…”

Клинические И Психологические Модели Патологических Кожных Ощущений

“…При дерматозойном бреде выявляются идеи заражения кожными паразитами или какими-либо живыми или неживыми патогенами, несмотря на их отсутствие по результатам объективных исследований [44], они ассоциированы с тактильными галлюцинациями, дополняемыми зрительными (иногда слуховыми и обонятельными) иллюзиями или галлюцинациями [11]. В диагностических критериях описывается разнообразие патологических кожных ощущений, включающих зуд, ползнание, пощипывание и покалывание [30,38].…”