Outcomes for delusional infestation in multidisciplinary clinics.

Area of Science:

• Psycho-dermatology
• Psychiatry
• Dermatology

Background:

• Delusional Infestation (DI) is a challenging psycho-dermatological condition where patients hold fixed false beliefs of infestation.
• Antipsychotic medication is the primary treatment, but patient engagement and optimal treatment settings remain areas of concern.
• Understanding the effectiveness of multidisciplinary clinics for DI management is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate treatment outcomes for Delusional Infestation patients referred to UK-based multidisciplinary clinics.
• To assess the impact of planned discharge versus loss to follow-up on patient outcomes.
• To determine the role of antipsychotic medication adherence in treatment success.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 465 Delusional Infestation patient records.
• Utilized the Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) score as the primary outcome measure.
• Employed independent t-tests and ANOVA to compare outcomes based on medication adherence and follow-up status.

Main Results:

• A mean CGI-S score reduction of -1.29 indicated clinically relevant improvement across the cohort.
• Patients with planned discharges who adhered to medication showed the most significant improvement (average CGI-S change: -2.02).
• Medication adherence was strongly correlated with better outcomes, whereas loss to follow-up, particularly without medication, resulted in minimal to no improvement.

Conclusions:

• Multidisciplinary clinics demonstrate positive clinical outcomes for Delusional Infestation patients.
• Patient engagement, evidenced by planned discharges and medication adherence, significantly enhances treatment success.
• The findings underscore the importance of consistent follow-up and adherence to antipsychotic medication in managing DI.