Impressive Response with Brexpiprazole in Ekbom’s syndrome
Introduction Antipsychotics are the mainstream treatment of delusional disorder. However, limited therapeutic effect was recognized due to side effect and lack of insight. Objectives This article presents a case with Ekbom’s syndrome, also known as delusional parasitosis, who has significant respo...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Cambridge University Press
2022-06-01
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| Series: | European Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822020545/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1797616777921822720 |
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| author | J. Hsiao Y.-C. Shen |
| author_facet | J. Hsiao Y.-C. Shen |
| author_sort | J. Hsiao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Introduction
Antipsychotics are the mainstream treatment of delusional disorder. However, limited therapeutic effect was recognized due to side effect and lack of insight.
Objectives
This article presents a case with Ekbom’s syndrome, also known as delusional parasitosis, who has significant response with Brexpiprazole.
Methods
A 58-year-old female developed her very first episode of psychosis 3 weeks before she visited our emergency department. Delusion of spiders laying eggs and bitsy spiders crawling over her body was claimed, followed by depressed mood and insomnia. The patient denied any substance use in recent months. Examination including biochemical studies, complete blood count, vitamin, and endocrine during admission were all normal. Brain image revealed senile cortical atrophy without apparent acute infarction. Cognitive abilities screening instrument (CASI) revealed total score 75, indicating borderline cognitive function. Ophthalmologist and dermatologist were consulted, and no specific abnormality was found.
Results
Brexpiprazole 2mg was prescribed. After 3 weeks of treatment, the delusion improved with less parasitosis content. We discharged the patient, and kept following her at outpatient department with Brexpiprazole 2mg for 2 months. We tried to taper Brexpiprazole to 1mg at clinic, but her delusional parasitosis relapsed within 1 month. Therefore, we titrated the medication back to 2mg, and kept some dosage for 4 months. No more relapse of psychosis or significant movement dysfunction was observed. The total treatment course was 7 months.
Conclusions
Brexpiprazole, with its D2 partial agonism, shows impressive antipsychotic effect to Ekbom’s syndrome. Little side effect was observed in clinical practice, making Brexpiprazole a worth-trying psychopharmacological management of delusional parasitosis.
Disclosure
No significant relationships.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:46:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4ff0533bfa684e3c81a676f0467a2b51 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0924-9338 1778-3585 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:46:11Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-4ff0533bfa684e3c81a676f0467a2b512023-11-17T05:07:35ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852022-06-0165S795S79510.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.2054Impressive Response with Brexpiprazole in Ekbom’s syndromeJ. Hsiao0Y.-C. Shen1Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Department Of Psychiatry, No., Sec., Zhongyang Rd. Hualien City, Hualien County, Taiwan, TaiwanHualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Department Of Psychiatry, No., Sec., Zhongyang Rd. Hualien City, Hualien County, Taiwan, Taiwan Introduction Antipsychotics are the mainstream treatment of delusional disorder. However, limited therapeutic effect was recognized due to side effect and lack of insight. Objectives This article presents a case with Ekbom’s syndrome, also known as delusional parasitosis, who has significant response with Brexpiprazole. Methods A 58-year-old female developed her very first episode of psychosis 3 weeks before she visited our emergency department. Delusion of spiders laying eggs and bitsy spiders crawling over her body was claimed, followed by depressed mood and insomnia. The patient denied any substance use in recent months. Examination including biochemical studies, complete blood count, vitamin, and endocrine during admission were all normal. Brain image revealed senile cortical atrophy without apparent acute infarction. Cognitive abilities screening instrument (CASI) revealed total score 75, indicating borderline cognitive function. Ophthalmologist and dermatologist were consulted, and no specific abnormality was found. Results Brexpiprazole 2mg was prescribed. After 3 weeks of treatment, the delusion improved with less parasitosis content. We discharged the patient, and kept following her at outpatient department with Brexpiprazole 2mg for 2 months. We tried to taper Brexpiprazole to 1mg at clinic, but her delusional parasitosis relapsed within 1 month. Therefore, we titrated the medication back to 2mg, and kept some dosage for 4 months. No more relapse of psychosis or significant movement dysfunction was observed. The total treatment course was 7 months. Conclusions Brexpiprazole, with its D2 partial agonism, shows impressive antipsychotic effect to Ekbom’s syndrome. Little side effect was observed in clinical practice, making Brexpiprazole a worth-trying psychopharmacological management of delusional parasitosis. Disclosure No significant relationships. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822020545/type/journal_articleAntipsychoticsBrexpiprazoleDelusional parasitosisEkbom’s syndrome |
| spellingShingle | J. Hsiao Y.-C. Shen Impressive Response with Brexpiprazole in Ekbom’s syndrome European Psychiatry Antipsychotics Brexpiprazole Delusional parasitosis Ekbom’s syndrome |
| title | Impressive Response with Brexpiprazole in Ekbom’s syndrome |
| title_full | Impressive Response with Brexpiprazole in Ekbom’s syndrome |
| title_fullStr | Impressive Response with Brexpiprazole in Ekbom’s syndrome |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impressive Response with Brexpiprazole in Ekbom’s syndrome |
| title_short | Impressive Response with Brexpiprazole in Ekbom’s syndrome |
| title_sort | impressive response with brexpiprazole in ekbom s syndrome |
| topic | Antipsychotics Brexpiprazole Delusional parasitosis Ekbom’s syndrome |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822020545/type/journal_article |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jhsiao impressiveresponsewithbrexpiprazoleinekbomssyndrome AT ycshen impressiveresponsewithbrexpiprazoleinekbomssyndrome |