Snakes and their relevance to psychiatry

Delusional disorder of snake infestation – a diagnostic dilemma

“…According to Eigen, different symbolic meaning is to be drawn depending on the body part of the snake emphasised: i.e., whether it is its eyes, tongue, fangs, anatomical form or even movement. 5 She was diagnosed with delusional infestation, which is a type of delusional disorder with somatic delusions. Munro proposed it in 1982 as a type of monosymptomatic hypochondriacal psychosis.…”