Iatrogenic delusional parasitosis: a case of physician-patient folie a deux

Jessica E Bury; J Michael Bostwick

doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2009.09.013

Iatrogenic delusional parasitosis: a case of physician-patient folie a deux

Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2010 Mar-Apr;32(2):210-2. doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2009.09.013. Epub 2009 Oct 29.

Authors

Jessica E Bury¹, J Michael Bostwick

Affiliation

¹ Mayo Medical School, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, USA.

PMID: 20302996
DOI: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2009.09.013

Abstract

This report presents a patient incorrectly diagnosed first with parasitic infestation and then with primary delusional parasitosis (DP). Neither diagnosis was correct. As she traveled from doctor to doctor, however, the primary DP label gained credibility via repetition, with her ongoing symptoms seen as proof of its truth.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Adult
Attitude of Health Personnel*
Attitude to Health
Delusions / diagnosis
Delusions / epidemiology*
Delusions / psychology*
Diagnosis, Differential
Diagnostic Errors*
Female
Humans
Iatrogenic Disease / epidemiology*
Parasitic Diseases / psychology*
Physician-Patient Relations*
Shared Paranoid Disorder / diagnosis
Shared Paranoid Disorder / psychology*