Health providers induced iatrogenic delusions of infestation

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Dermatology
• Infectious Disease

Background:

• Factitial dermatosis involves self-inflicted skin mutilation, often unrecognized by patients.
• Patients attribute lesions to spontaneous causes, complicating diagnosis and treatment.
• Psycho-cutaneous disorders require specialized understanding in healthcare settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a case of factitial dermatosis evolving into delusions of infestation.
• To illustrate how medical interventions can exacerbate underlying psychiatric conditions.
• To emphasize the importance of recognizing and managing psycho-cutaneous disorders.

Main Methods:

• Case report detailing patient presentation and clinical course.
• Review of diagnostic challenges and treatment responses.
• Analysis of the impact of healthcare interactions on patient's mental state.

Main Results:

• A patient with undiagnosed factitial disorder developed delusions of Mycobacterium kansasii infestation.
• The patient pursued extensive antibiotic treatments based on these delusions.
• Healthcare interventions inadvertently intensified the patient's psychiatric symptoms.

Conclusions:

• Early identification of factitial dermatosis is crucial to prevent escalation.
• Healthcare providers need education on psycho-cutaneous disorders to avoid iatrogenic harm.
• Integrated care approaches are essential for managing patients with complex psychodermatological conditions.