Delusions of Intestinal Parasitosis

FORD, ELIZABETH B.; CALFEE, DAVID P.; Pearson, Richard D.

doi:10.1097/00007611-200105000-00025

Cited by 9 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…There are a few reports resembling that in the literature, which were referred to delusions of intestinal parasitosis. It has been noted that so-called delusion involved the intestinal system, but not the skin [39]; whereas, our case had a delusion involving the skin and other organs such as eye, nose, throat, as well as intestine, which suggested a systemic parasitosis.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 65%

Variable Clinical Presentations of Secondary Delusional Infestation: An Experience of Six Cases from a Psychodermatology Clinic

Altunay

Ateş

Mercan

et al. 2012

Int J Psychiatry Med

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Each patient had different clinical characteristics creating diagnostic challenges. All complaints were related to the infestation of the skin. The presence of different psychiatric comorbidities is remarkable. It seems that both psychiatrists and dermatologists can face diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of this complex disease in clinical settings, particularly if there are unusual clinical features of DI. Therefore, both psychiatrists and dermatologists should be well aware of DI.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 65%

Variable Clinical Presentations of Secondary Delusional Infestation: An Experience of Six Cases from a Psychodermatology Clinic

Altunay

Ateş

Mercan

et al. 2012

Int J Psychiatry Med

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“…Patients with DP believe that insects, worms or other small pests live in their bodies and feed on them [2]. Visual or tactile hallucinations consistent with thought content can accompany the delusions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Delusional parasitosis with hyperthyroidism in an elderly woman: a case report

et al. 2013

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IntroductionDelusional parasitosis is a rare, monosymptomatic psychosis involving a delusion of being infested with parasites. It is commonly observed among female patients over the age of 50. It is classified as a ‘delusional disorder’ according to the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases and as a ‘delusional disorder - somatic type’ according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition. Delusional parasitosis was reported to be associated with physical disorders such as hypoparathyroidism, Huntington’s chorea and Alzheimer’s disease, among others. Other than vitamin deficiencies however, a causal relationship has not to date been identified. We present this case due to the rarity of Turkish patients with this condition, its duration of follow-up, and its temporal pattern of symptoms paralleling thyroid function tests.Case presentationOur patient was a 70-year-old white Anatolian Turkish woman with primary school education who had been living alone for the past five years. She presented to our psychiatry department complaining of ‘feeling large worms moving in her body’. The complaints started after she was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, increased when she did not use her thyroid medications and remitted when she was compliant with treatment. She was treated with pimozide 2mg/day for 20 months and followed-up without any antipsychotic treatment for an additional nine months. At her last examination, she was euthyroid, not receiving antipsychotics and was not having any delusions.ConclusionAlthough endocrine disorders, including hyperthyroidism, are listed among the etiological factors contributing to secondary delusional parasitosis, as far as we are aware this is the first case demonstrating a temporal pattern of thyroid hyperfunction and delusions through a protracted period of follow-up. It may be that the treatment of delusional parasitosis depends on clarifying the etiology and that atypical antipsychotics may help in the management of primary delusional parasitosis. Further studies on the relationship between thyroid hormones and dopaminergic neurotransmission may be warranted.

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“…Bei Frauen ist DW häufiger als bei Männern [5,48], wobei bis zum Alter von 50 J. beide Geschlechter gleich häufig betroffen sind und sich die Frauenwendigkeit erst danach zeigt [26,46]. Diese korreliert ± gemäû einer anderen Studie ± zudem positiv mit dem Patientenalter [38].…”

Section: Epidemiologieunclassified

“…11 der 12 Fälle das Wahnkriterium der Unkorrigierbarkeit nicht erfüllten [4]. ± Als Lokalisation der Parasiten wird meist von ¹aufª, ¹inª oder ¹unterª der Haut angegeben, daneben der Verdauungstrakt (¹Enterozoenwahnª [53]), Körperöffnungen (Mund, Nase, Ohren, Nabel, After) sowie die Augen [48]. Auch die nähere Umgebung des Patienten, die Familienmitglieder und die Wohnung können als ¹befallenª erlebt werden [50], so dass im Haushalt und bei der Wäsche meist peinlich auf Sauberkeit geachtet wird [7].…”

Section: ± Die Patienten Klagen üBer Eine Vermeintliche Infektion Mitunclassified

Der „Dermatozoenwahn”

Freudenmann¹

2002

Fortschr Neurol Psychiatr

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This paper gives an up-to-date review on delusional parasitosis (DP) and particularly meets clinical interests. Facing the lack of clear guidelines for clinical practice an efficient diagnostic staircase procedure is presented. The different approaches in the therapy of DP are reviewed and summed up in a checklist. The available information on the therapeutic gold standard, the neuroleptic agent pimozide, is discussed. Symptoms and clinical characteristics of DP are presented partly based on material from an internet website run by patients. Moreover, this paper delivers a comprehensive literature review on the pathogenesis of DP and its classification. To conclude, possible future therapies in DP, e. g. serotonin-dopamine-antagonists, as well as current methods in research on hallucinations are discussed.

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Delusions of Intestinal Parasitosis

Cited by 9 publications

References 0 publications

Variable Clinical Presentations of Secondary Delusional Infestation: An Experience of Six Cases from a Psychodermatology Clinic

Variable Clinical Presentations of Secondary Delusional Infestation: An Experience of Six Cases from a Psychodermatology Clinic

Delusional parasitosis with hyperthyroidism in an elderly woman: a case report

Der „Dermatozoenwahn”

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