Delusional parasitosis. A multicenter retrospective study in Spanish infectious disease services

Insights into the Medical Evaluation of Ekbom Syndrome: An Overview

Ekbom syndrome, also known as delusional parasitosis (DP) or delusional infestation, is an uncommon psychiatric disorder distinguished by an enduring conviction of parasitic infestation, persisting notwithstanding the presence of medical evidence to the contrary. Primarily affecting middle-aged women, DP can manifest either as isolated psychological distress or as a component within a more intricate psychiatric framework, substantially influencing the quality of life for affected individuals. Its pathophysiological mechanism involves uncertain dopaminergic imbalances and dysfunction in the dopamine transporter system. Dermatologists often play a pivotal role in diagnosis, as patients first seek dermatological assessments of their signs and symptoms. However, DP frequently originates from underlying psychiatric disorders or medical variables, manifesting with neurological and infectious causative factors. The diagnostic complexity is attributed to patients' resolute convictions, leading to delayed psychiatric intervention. First-line DP treatment involves antipsychotics, with newer agents demonstrating promising prospects, but the lack of standardized protocols poses a significant therapeutic challenge. In this narrative review, both a comprehensive approach to this uncommon pathology and an update on the state of knowledge in this medical subfield focused on optimizing the management of DP are provided. The complexity of DP underlying its uncommon nature and the incomplete understanding of its pathophysiology highlight the need for further research through multicenter studies and multidisciplinary teams to enhance therapeutic efficacy and safety.

Psychodermatological Disorders in Patients With Primary Psychiatric Conditions: Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Psychodermatological disorders (PDs) and their associations with mental health problems are one of the most frequent research themes in dermatology outpatient settings. Surprisingly, very few studies have been conducted to evaluate PDs among patients with primary psychiatric conditions. As such, the relationship between preexisting psychiatric conditions and comorbid PDs is underrepresented in the literature.

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the prevalence and distribution of PDs among adults with primary psychiatric conditions and determined their association with underlying psychiatric diagnoses.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis at a tertiary health care facility in southwestern Nigeria. Comorbid PDs were identified and classified using preexisting classification systems. A bivariate analysis was conducted to determine the association between PDs and underlying psychiatric conditions. The level of statistical significance was set at P<.05.

RESULTS

The study included 107 patients with mental health disorders, of whom 64 (59.8%) were female. The mean age of the patients was 40.73 (SD 13.08) years. A total of 75 (75/107, 70%) patients had at least one comorbid PD. The prevalence of PDs was highest in patients with affective disorders (15/20, 75%) and least in those with schizophrenia (45/66, 68%). PDs associated with delusions or hallucinations and somatoform symptoms were 9 and 13 times more frequent in patients with anxiety disorders compared to those with other psychiatric conditions (P=.01; odds ratio [OR] 9.88, 95% CI 1.67-58.34 and P=.003; OR 13.13, 95% CI 2.34-73.65), respectively. In contrast, patients with schizophrenia were significantly less likely to be diagnosed with dermatoses resulting from delusions or hallucinations (P=.002; OR 0.04, 95% CI 0.00-0.75). A weak but significant negative association was also found between psychophysiological PDs and anxiety disorders (ϕ=-0.236; P=.02).

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides important insights into the overwhelming burden of psychodermatological conditions in patients with mental health disorders and specific associations with underlying psychiatric diagnosis.

Collaboration between Psychiatrists and Other Allied Medical Specialists for the Treatment of Delusional Disorders

Background: There is increasing evidence that individuals with psychosis are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and several other medical comorbidities. In delusional disorder (DD), this is particularly so because of the relatively late onset age. Aims: The aim of this narrative review is to synthesize the literature on the necessity for medical collaboration between psychiatrists and other specialists. Methods: A non-systematic narrative review was carried out of papers addressing referrals and cooperation among specialists in the care of DD patients. Results: Psychiatrists, the primary care providers for DD patients, depend on neurology to assess cognitive defects and rule out organic sources of delusions. Neurologists rely on psychiatry to help with patient adherence to treatment and the management of psychotropic drug side effects. Psychiatrists require ophthalmology/otolaryngology to treat sensory deficits that often precede delusions; reciprocally, psychiatric consults can help in instances of functional sensory impairment. Close collaboration with dermatologists is essential for treating delusional parasitosis and dysmorphophobia to ensure timely referrals to psychiatry. Conclusions: This review offers many other examples from the literature of the extent of overlap among medical specialties in the evaluation and effective treatment of DD. Optimal patient care requires close collaboration among specialties.