Debugging the Patient

In a recent issue of the International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine (Issue 37(1)), a series of case studies describing six patients suffering from delusional parasitosis are presented.    Also known as Ekbom's syndrome, delusional parasitosis is a form of psychosis in which patients believe that they are infested with parasites (eg, worms, insects, or bacteria).   It can be found as a stand-alone delusion or as part of a broader diagnosis such as schizophrenia.  In the presented case series, the six patients were treated with atypical antipsychotic medications including amisulpride, olanzapine, and risperidone. While non-oral administration of medication (usually intravenously) was found to be beneficial in most cases, medical complications (including one patient who had a myocardial infarction after being given amisulpride) made treatment difficult in some cases. 

Click here for the abstract.

Comments

[PalMD]

There's been a lot in the media about this "Morgellons syndrome". We in health care are so mistrusted by these folks that it's impossible to convince them that they are not infested.

[Romeo Vitelli]

I've never dealt with a case of Morgellon's myself and I don't know how prevalent it is. The Morgellons Research Foundation seems to take it very seriously but I'll just reserve judgment.