Ekbom syndrome - a case report
Introduction Delusional parasitosis/infestation or Ekbom syndrome is an uncommon psychotic disorder characterized by a false belief that there is a parasitic infestation of the skin - the delusion that insects are crawling underneath the skin. Objectives This work aims to summarize and evaluate...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2021-04-01
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| Series: | European Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933821014371/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1797617518561460224 |
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| author | S. Nascimento H. Simião T. Mendonça M. Silva |
| author_facet | S. Nascimento H. Simião T. Mendonça M. Silva |
| author_sort | S. Nascimento |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Introduction
Delusional parasitosis/infestation or Ekbom syndrome is an uncommon psychotic disorder characterized by a false belief that there is a parasitic infestation of the skin - the delusion that insects are crawling underneath the skin.
Objectives
This work aims to summarize and evaluate the currently available evidence regarding Delusional parasitosis, and for this purpose, we will illustrate a case report of a patient admitted in the emergency room.
Methods
The authors have conducted online research in PubMed with the words “Delusional parasitosis” “delusional infestation”, “Ekbom syndrome”, from the outcome, the articles considered to be relevant were collected and analyzed.
Results
Delusional parasitosis can be classified into primary delusional parasitosis without other psychiatric or organic disorders present, secondary – functional (secondary to several mental disorders such as schizophrenia, depression, dementia, anxiety, and phobia), and organic forms (associated with hypothyroidism, anaemia, vitamin B12 deficiency, hepatitis, diabetes, infections (e.g., HIV, syphilis), and cocaine abuse. It is most commonly seen in middle-aged women. The patients became frequently socially isolated, prone to the development of depression symptoms.
Conclusions
This syndrome often presents a high level of psychosocial morbidity. Patients often seek dermatologists help in the first place, although there is no medical evidence. Psychiatrists play a major role in the diagnosis and treatment of these patients. Psychopharmacological therapy is quite challenging because of the patient’s belief that they have a parasitic infestation and not a psychiatric condition.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:57:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e1c9e3e7c1e84d3e8e92a2dd52b26ff7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0924-9338 1778-3585 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:57:13Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-e1c9e3e7c1e84d3e8e92a2dd52b26ff72023-11-17T05:05:29ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852021-04-0164S538S53910.1192/j.eurpsy.2021.1437Ekbom syndrome - a case reportS. Nascimento0H. Simião1T. Mendonça2M. Silva3Psychiatry, Centro hospitalar psiquiátrico de lisboa, Lisboa, PortugalPsychiatry, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, Lisbon, PortugalPsychiatry, Hospital Garcia de Orta, Almada, PortugalPsychiatry, Centro hospitalar psiquiátrico de lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal Introduction Delusional parasitosis/infestation or Ekbom syndrome is an uncommon psychotic disorder characterized by a false belief that there is a parasitic infestation of the skin - the delusion that insects are crawling underneath the skin. Objectives This work aims to summarize and evaluate the currently available evidence regarding Delusional parasitosis, and for this purpose, we will illustrate a case report of a patient admitted in the emergency room. Methods The authors have conducted online research in PubMed with the words “Delusional parasitosis” “delusional infestation”, “Ekbom syndrome”, from the outcome, the articles considered to be relevant were collected and analyzed. Results Delusional parasitosis can be classified into primary delusional parasitosis without other psychiatric or organic disorders present, secondary – functional (secondary to several mental disorders such as schizophrenia, depression, dementia, anxiety, and phobia), and organic forms (associated with hypothyroidism, anaemia, vitamin B12 deficiency, hepatitis, diabetes, infections (e.g., HIV, syphilis), and cocaine abuse. It is most commonly seen in middle-aged women. The patients became frequently socially isolated, prone to the development of depression symptoms. Conclusions This syndrome often presents a high level of psychosocial morbidity. Patients often seek dermatologists help in the first place, although there is no medical evidence. Psychiatrists play a major role in the diagnosis and treatment of these patients. Psychopharmacological therapy is quite challenging because of the patient’s belief that they have a parasitic infestation and not a psychiatric condition. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933821014371/type/journal_articleDelusional parasitosisdelusional infestationEkbom syndrome |
| spellingShingle | S. Nascimento H. Simião T. Mendonça M. Silva Ekbom syndrome - a case report European Psychiatry Delusional parasitosis delusional infestation Ekbom syndrome |
| title | Ekbom syndrome - a case report |
| title_full | Ekbom syndrome - a case report |
| title_fullStr | Ekbom syndrome - a case report |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ekbom syndrome - a case report |
| title_short | Ekbom syndrome - a case report |
| title_sort | ekbom syndrome a case report |
| topic | Delusional parasitosis delusional infestation Ekbom syndrome |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933821014371/type/journal_article |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT snascimento ekbomsyndromeacasereport AT hsimiao ekbomsyndromeacasereport AT tmendonca ekbomsyndromeacasereport AT msilva ekbomsyndromeacasereport |