By Sara Malik* Key words: delusional parasitosis, psychodermatology, psychiatry, dermatology, mind, skin, insects, infestation, antipsychotics Delusional parasitosis, also known as Ekbom syndrome, is a delusional disorder of the somatic type in which individuals believe that they are infested by insects. Delusional parasitosis was formally recognized as a psychiatric condition by Karl-Axel Ekbom, for whom the condition was eponymously named. Ekbom was a Swedish neurologist who had previously also described restless leg syndrome.1 Patients with delusional parasitosis are not afraid of the insects but are rather convinced that they are infested.2 Individuals will sometimes present with damage to the skin from attempting to remove the perceived insects.2 The incidence of delusional … Continue reading
Tag Archives: delusional parasitosis
Delusions of Infestation/Morgellons
Presented at Hot Spots in Dermatologgy Kahuku, Hawaii August 18, 2018 by Lauren Claypoole, MS1, John A Burns School of Medicine (University of Hawaii) My presentation is called “Delusions of Parasitosis/Morgellons> When I was at college, I was able to shadow a dermatologist for a month. He suggested I present two once-in-a-blue-moon cases that I observed at the clinic. Both patients taught me about the intricate crossover between the fields of dermatology and psychiatry, that I believe contributed significantly to my choice to be a psychology and neuroscience major shortly thereafter. Full Talk: Delusions of Parasitosis/Morgellons