Delusional parasitosis: 9-year experience from a psychodermatology unit.

Area of Science:

• Psychodermatology
• Clinical Psychiatry
• Dermatology

Background:

• Delusional parasitosis (DP), also known as Ekbom syndrome, is a rare psychiatric condition with a dermatological presentation.
• It is frequently underdiagnosed due to limited clinician awareness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the clinical presentation of delusional parasitosis in a tertiary care setting.
• To identify epidemiological and treatment outcome data for DP patients.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective observational study was conducted.
• Data were collected from 25 patients diagnosed with DP between June 2015 and June 2024.
• Included data: clinical signs, demographics, comorbidities, and treatment outcomes.

Main Results:

• The study identified 25 DP patients (75% female, mean age 55).
• Shared psychotic disorder and positive urine toxicology were noted in 32% of cases.
• The "matchbox sign" was observed in 56% of patients. Antipsychotics, particularly pimozide, were the primary treatment.
• 43% of treated patients showed improvement, with 21.5% achieving complete remission. 44% were lost to follow-up.

Conclusions:

• Delusional parasitosis requires consideration in routine dermatological practice.
• Challenges in managing DP include poor patient adherence and the need for multidisciplinary care.