Subject(s)
Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Delusions/diagnosis , Ectoparasitic Infestations/psychology , Hallucinations/diagnosis , Antipsychotic Agents/therapeutic use , Delusions/drug therapy , Delusions/psychology , Hallucinations/drug therapy , Hallucinations/psychology , Piperazines/therapeutic use , Quinolones/therapeutic useABSTRACT
A Síndrome de Ekbom, também conhecida como delírio de parasitose ou acarofobia, é um estado fóbico obsessivo no qual o paciente pensa, imagina ou acredita que está infestado por parasitas na pele. Em estado alucinatório, retira fragmentos de pele, identificando-os como parasitas. Pode tratar-se de um quadro psiquiátrico primário ou secundário a outros transtornos orgânicos. Geralmente, esses pacientes demoram a procurar ajuda médica, e o dermatologista, quase sempre, é o primeiro profissional procurado. Descrevemos o caso de três pacientes dos quais apresentaram delírio de parasitose, associados a transtornos orgânicos.
The Ekbom syndrome, also known as delusion of parasitosis or acarophobia is an obsessive phobic state in which the patient thinks, imagines or believes that his or her skin is infested by parasites. In the hallucinatory state, he/she removes parts of the skin, identifying them as parasites. It can be primary or secondary to other organic or psychiatric diseases. Generally speaking these patients take a long time to seek for medical support and the dermatologist is almost always the first physician to see them. Here we describe three patients with delusional parasitosis associated with organic disorders.
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Delusions/psychology , Ectoparasitic Infestations/psychology , Antipsychotic Agents/therapeutic use , Delusions/drug therapy , Ectoparasitic Infestations/pathology , Pimozide/therapeutic use , Risperidone/therapeutic use , Self Mutilation/pathology , Self Mutilation/psychology , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Delusional parasitosis is characterized by the unshakeable belief of being infested with tiny (microscopic) insects. Patients spend much time trying to get rid of the bugs and suffer from these symptoms. Patients prefer to go to dermatologists because they have a strong conviction over the presence of a somatic disease and do not accept any psychiatric advice for their complaints. 'Folie a deux' or shared psychotic disorder (SPD) is a relatively rare syndrome, which has long attracted clinical attention. Delusional parasitosis is associated in 5-15% of SPD and can run within a family. We experienced delusional parasitosis as 'Folie a Deux' between a mother and her son and successfully treated them through early psychiatric intervention. We believe that attention should be drawn to DP with SPD.