A case report and review of the clinical aspects and management guidelines for delusions of parasitosis are presented. Special emphasis is given to the efficacy of pimozide in the treatment of this psychiatric disorder.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BerriosGE. Delusional parasitosis and physical disease. Compr Psychiatry1985; 26: 395–403.
2.
WykoffRF. Delusions of parasitosis: a review. Rev Infect Dis1987; 9: 433–7.
3.
LyellA. Delusions of parasitosis. Br J Dermatol1983; 108: 485–99.
4.
TorchEMBishopERJr. Delusions of parasitosis: psychotherapeutic engagement. Am J Psychother1981; 35: 101–6.
5.
ThibiergeG. Les acaraphobes. Rev Gen Clin Ther1894; 32: 373–7.
6.
WilsonJWMillerHE. Delusion of parasitosis (acarophobia). Arch Dermatol Syphilol1946; 54: 39–56.
7.
JohnsonGCAntonRF. Delusions of parasitosis: differential diagnosis and treatment. South Med J1985; 78: 914–8.
8.
BishopER. Monosymptomatic hypochondriacal syndromes in dermatology. J Am Acad Dermatol1983; 9: 152–8.
9.
MunroAChmaraJ. Monosymptomatic hypochondriacal psychosis: a diagnostic checklist based on 50 cases of this disorder. Can J Psychiatry1982; 27: 374–6.
10.
KulbergAGoldfrankL. Who has bugs?Pediatrics1984; 73: 117.
11.
SkottA. Delusions of infestation. Report from the Psychiatric Research Centre, St. Jorgen Hospital, University of Goteborg, Sweden, 1978; 13: 132.
12.
GouldWMGraggTM. Delusions of parasitosis—an approach to the problem. Arch Dermatol1976; 112: 1745–8.
13.
MickRLRosenDHSmithRC. Delusions of parasitosis: healing impact of the physician-patient relationship. Psychosomatics1987; 28: 596–8.
14.
MunroA. Monosymptomatic hypochondriacal psychosis manifesting as delusions of parasitosis. Arch Dermatol1978; 114: 940–3.
15.
ReillyRMJoplingWHBeardAW. Successful treatment with pimozide of delusional parasitosis. Br J Dermatol1978; 98: 457–9.
16.
HamannKAvnstorpC. Delusions of infestation treated by pimozide: a double-blind crossover clinical study. Acta Derm Venereol (Stockh)1982; 62: 55–8.
17.
VladarGU. Pimozide treatment for delusion of infestation. Act Nerv Super (Praha)1986; 28: 103–7.
18.
JohnsonGCAntonRF. Pimozide in delusions of parasitosis. J Clin Psychiatry1983; 44: 233–4.
CreeseIFeinbergAPSnyderSH. Butyrophenone influences on the opiate receptor. Eur J Pharmacol1976; 36: 231–5.
21.
AndrewsEBellardJWalter-RyanWG. Monosymptomatic hypochondriacal psychosis manifesting as delusions of infestation: case studies of treatment with haloperidol. J Clin Psychiatry1986; 47: 188–90.
22.
ShahPA. Delusions of parasitosis. South Med J1988; 81: 939–40.
23.
FrithzA. Delusions of infestation: treatment by depot injections of neuroleptics. Clin Exp Dermatol1979; 4: 485–8.
