Delusional parasitosis: A dermatologic, psychiatric, and pharmacologic approach

Delusional parasitosis is a syndrome in which the patient has the false belief that he is infested by parasites. Although this is a psychiatric disorder, patients usually seek care from dermatologists. DP has various causes. It may occur as the sole psychologic disturbance, or it may be associated w...

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Published inJournal of the American Academy of Dermatology Vol. 29; no. 6; pp. 1023 - 1033
Main Authors Driscoll, Marcia S., Rothe, Marti Jill, Grant-Kels, Jane M., Hale, Mahlon S.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01.12.1993
Elsevier
Subjects
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
Aged
Antipsychotic Agents - therapeutic use
Biological and medical sciences
Delusions - complications
Delusions - diagnosis
Delusions - epidemiology
Delusions - etiology
Delusions - therapy
Diagnosis, Differential
Female
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Patient Care Team
Pimozide - adverse effects
Pimozide - therapeutic use
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Referral and Consultation
Skin Diseases, Parasitic - complications
Skin Diseases, Parasitic - diagnosis
Skin Diseases, Parasitic - epidemiology
Skin Diseases, Parasitic - etiology
Skin Diseases, Parasitic - therapy
Somatoform disorders. Psychosomatics
Infection
Human
Psychosomatics
Personality
Review
Parasitosis
Delusion psychosis
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Summary:Delusional parasitosis is a syndrome in which the patient has the false belief that he is infested by parasites. Although this is a psychiatric disorder, patients usually seek care from dermatologists. DP has various causes. It may occur as the sole psychologic disturbance, or it may be associated with an underlying psychiatric disorder or physical illness. A dermatology-psychiatry liaison is advocated for establishing a viable differential diagnosis and selecting appropriate therapy. The antipsychotic agent pimozide is currently the most effective treatment when DP occurs as an encapsulated delusion. Pimozide therapy requires careful monitoring because this drug has several potentially serious adverse effects, and relapse often occurs on discontinuation of the drug.
ISSN:0190-9622
1097-6787
DOI:10.1016/0190-9622(93)70284-Z