Hypnosis in the Treatment of Morgellons Disease:<i>A Case Study</i>

Gartner, Ashley M.; Dolan, Sara L.; Stanford, Matthew S.; Elkins, Gary

doi:10.1080/00207144.2011.546263

Cited by 10 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…various interpretations about its occurrence, such as the chemtrails, none of which was science-based. On the other hand, the Morgellons' psychogenesis has been only supposed, without clear-cut scientific evidences, by the therapeutic benefits obtained through hypnosis or oral psychoactive drugs, such as pimozide [10][11][12]. Our analyses have revealed that the wires extracted from the patient's skin lesions were the same present in the nose mucus, in the indoor air, and inside the washing machine filter of her apartment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

The first investigative science-based evidence of Morgellons psychogenesis

Roncati

Gatti

Pusiol

et al. 2016

Ultrastructural Pathology

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Morgellons disease is an infrequent syndromic condition, that typically affects middle-aged white women, characterized by crawling sensations on and under the skin, associated with itchy rashes, stinging sores, fiber-like filaments emerging from the sores, severe fatigue, concentrating difficulty, and memory loss. The scientific community is prone to believe that Morgellons is the manifestation of various psychiatric syndromes (Munchausen, Munchausen by proxy, Ekbom, Wittmaack-Ekbom). Up until now, no investigative science-based evidence about its psychogenesis has ever been provided. In order to close this gap, we have analyzed the filaments extracted from the skin lesions of a 49-year-old Caucasian female patient, by using a Field Emission Gun-Environmental Electron Scanning Microscope equipped with an X-ray microprobe, for the chemico-elemental characterization of the filaments, comparing them with those collected during a detailed indoor investigation, with careful air monitoring, in her apartment. Our results prove the self-introduction under the epidermis of environmental filaments. For the first time in the literature, we have scientifically demonstrated the self-induced nature of Morgellons disease, thereby wiping out fanciful theories about its etiopathogenesis.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

The first investigative science-based evidence of Morgellons psychogenesis

Roncati

Gatti

Pusiol

et al. 2016

Ultrastructural Pathology

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“…These differing results can be explained by methodological factors, such as the hypnotic suggestions used with patients. Studies on other populations, such as patients with haemodialysis, cancer in palliative care or Morgellons disease have reported that hypnosis has a positive effect on anxiety and depression (Gartner et al., ; Plaskota et al., ; Untas et al., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Efficacy and cost‐effectiveness: A study of different treatment approaches in a tertiary pain centre

Vanhaudenhuyse

Gillet

Malaise

et al. 2015

European Journal of Pain

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Background: Chronic pain is considered to be a complex phenomenon, involving an interrelation of biological, psychosocial and sociocultural factors. Currently, no single treatment or therapy can address all aspects of this pathology. In our expert tertiary pain centre, we decide to assess the effectiveness of four treatments for chronic pain classically proposed in our daily clinical work: physiotherapy; psycho-education; physiotherapy combined with psycho-education; and self-hypnosis/selfcare learning. Methods: This study included 527 chronic pain patients, with a mean duration of pain of 10 years. Patients were allocated either to one of the four pre-cited treatment groups or to the control group. Pain intensity, quality of life, pain interference, anxiety and depression were assessed before and after treatment. Results: This study revealed a significant positive effect on pain interference and anxiety in patients included in the physiotherapy combined with psycho-education group, after 20 sessions spread over 9 months of treatment. The most prominent results were obtained for patients allocated to the self-hypnosis/self-care group, although they received only six sessions over a 9-month period. These patients showed significant benefits in the areas of pain intensity, pain interference, anxiety, depression and quality of life. Conclusions: This clinical report demonstrates the relevance of biopsychosocial approaches in the improvement of pain and psychological factors in chronic pain patients. The study further reveals the larger impact of self-hypnosis/self-care learning treatment, in addition to a cost-effectiveness benefit of this treatment comparative to other interventions.

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“… 55 , 58 , 60 Only seven of these studies indicated that the subjects had heard of MD. 54 , 56 , 58 , 61 – 63 , 70…”

Section: Evidence Supporting the Hypothesis Of Dpmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… 55 , 59 , 60 , 66 In contrast, many more case studies indicated that treatment with antipsychotic drugs reduced symptoms but was not curative 55 , 58 , 61 , 66 , 70 , 71 or that antipsychotics were ineffective. 62 , 63 , 65 In fact, Robles et al suggested that treatment with antibiotics was more successful than treatment with antipsychotics, although they too concluded that MD was delusional rather than infectious. They reported that treatment of two patients with doxycycline and no antipsychotics resulted in complete resolution of the condition, while one subject treated with antipsychotics and no antibiotics did not have disease resolution.…”

Section: Evidence Supporting the Hypothesis Of Dpmentioning

confidence: 99%

History of Morgellons disease: from delusion to definition

Middelveen¹,

Fesler²,

Stricker³

2018

CCID

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Morgellons disease (MD) is a skin condition characterized by the presence of multicolored filaments that lie under, are embedded in, or project from skin. Although the condition may have a longer history, disease matching the above description was first reported in the US in 2002. Since that time, the condition that we know as MD has become a polemic topic. Because individuals afflicted with the disease may have crawling or stinging sensations and sometimes believe they have an insect or parasite infestation, most medical practitioners consider MD a purely delusional disorder. Clinical studies supporting the hypothesis that MD is exclusively delusional in origin have considerable methodological flaws and often neglect the fact that mental disorders can result from underlying somatic illness. In contrast, rigorous experimental investigations show that this skin affliction results from a physiological response to the presence of an infectious agent. Recent studies from that point of view show an association between MD and spirochetal infection in humans, cattle, and dogs. These investigations have determined that the cutaneous filaments are not implanted textile fibers, but are composed of the cellular proteins keratin and collagen and result from overproduction of these filaments in response to spirochetal infection. Further studies of the genetics, pathogenesis, and treatment of MD are warranted.

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Hypnosis in the Treatment of Morgellons Disease:A Case Study

Cited by 10 publications

References 12 publications

The first investigative science-based evidence of Morgellons psychogenesis

The first investigative science-based evidence of Morgellons psychogenesis

Efficacy and cost‐effectiveness: A study of different treatment approaches in a tertiary pain centre

History of Morgellons disease: from delusion to definition

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