Diagnosis and management of delusional parasitosis

Elliott H Campbell; Dirk M Elston; James D Hawthorne; David R Beckert

doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2018.12.012

Diagnosis and management of delusional parasitosis

J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019 May;80(5):1428-1434. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2018.12.012. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Authors

Elliott H Campbell¹, Dirk M Elston², James D Hawthorne³, David R Beckert⁴

Affiliations

¹ University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky. Electronic address: elliott.campbell@uky.edu.
² Department of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.
³ Department of Psychiatry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.

PMID: 30543832
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2018.12.012

Abstract

Delusional parasitosis is a monosymptomatic hypochondriacal state that causes great suffering for the patient and great suffering for those around them. Dermatologists are experts in the diagnosis of cutaneous disease and frequently encounter such patients. This review provides an overview of the diagnosis and management of delusional parasitosis and the differential diagnosis.

Keywords: Ekbom syndrome; chronic tactile hallucinosis; delusional parasitosis; delusions of parasitosis; delusory parasitosis; psychogenic parasitosis.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Antipsychotic Agents / adverse effects
Antipsychotic Agents / therapeutic use*
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Delusional Parasitosis / diagnosis*
Delusional Parasitosis / therapy*
Diagnosis, Differential
Humans
Physician-Patient Relations

Substances

Antipsychotic Agents