Risk Factors for Nonattendance in Delusional Infestation: A Multicenter Observational Study.
Dermatology 2022;
239:116-121. [PMID:
35878589 PMCID:
PMC9808651 DOI:
10.1159/000525725]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Nonattendance is common among patients suffering from delusional infestation (DI) with a risk factor for poorer patient outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine the incidence rate and predictors of nonattendance among patients presenting to a psychodermatology department with DI and the subsequent effect on the success of prescribing new antipsychotics.
METHODS
Data of 265 patients were reviewed of the Amsterdam UMC, the Erasmus University Medical Center, the Royal London Hospital, and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine between January 2008 and October 2019.
RESULTS
We observed that among the patients who attended the first consultation, 57% (n = 144) did not attend their second visit. Recreational drug use was significantly higher in the nonattendance group compared to the attendance group (25% against 18%). Patients who had a history of previously prescribed antipsychotics at the time of the first consultation were less likely to get prescribed antipsychotics from the psychodermatology departments for DI; however, prescribing antipsychotic drugs by the psychodermatology department did not influence nonattendance significantly.
CONCLUSIONS
People suffering from DI are at high risk of nonattendance, even in specialist settings. Patients with current illicit drug use and younger patients are particularly at risk of this.
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