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Delusional infestation syndrome: first retrospective study on a case series in France
Mohammad Akhoundi1,2, Nicolas Bosc3, Emma Benamari1
1Parasitology-Mycology Department, Avicenne Hospital, AP-HP, Bobigny, Sorbonne Paris Nord University, France.
Background:
Delusional infestation (DI) is a rare psychiatric disorder characterized by a persistent, false belief of being infested by parasites.
Objectives:
We sought to investigate the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of individuals with DI.
Methods:
We performed a retrospective study of 47 patients with DI who were referred to a hospital in Paris, France, between 2009 and 2024.
Results:
Our study included 32 women and 15 men, indicating that DI occurs more frequently in women than men. The majority of affected individuals were between 41 and 80 years of age. All patients exhibited the 'matchbox sign', with symptoms such as distress, anxiety and insomnia also frequently recorded. The occurrence of DI was not influenced by a patient's occupation.
Conclusions:
Healthcare workers should be aware of DI, its diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
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