Antipsychotic treatment of primary delusional parasitosis: Systematic review

British Journal of Psychiatry

Volumn 191, Issue 3, 2007, Pages 198-205

  Lepping, Peter ^a   Russell, Ian ^b   Freudenmann, Roland W ^c  

^a Wrexham Academic Unit   (United Kingdom)

^b BANGOR UNIVERSITY   (United Kingdom)

^c UNIVERSITY OF ULM   (Germany)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

AMISULPRIDE; ATYPICAL ANTIPSYCHOTIC AGENT; CHLORPROMAZINE; FLUPENTIXOL; FLUPHENAZINE; HALOPERIDOL; NEUROLEPTIC AGENT; OLANZAPINE; PERITHIAZINE; PERPHENAZINE; PIMOZIDE; PLACEBO; QUETIAPINE; RISPERIDONE; SULPIRIDE; THIORIDAZINE; TRIFLUOPERAZINE; UNCLASSIFIED DRUG;

BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATABASE; DELUSIONAL DISORDER; DELUSIONAL PARASITOSIS; DIAGNOSTIC AND STATISTICAL MANUAL OF MENTAL DISORDERS; DOCTOR PATIENT RELATION; EXTRAPYRAMIDAL SYMPTOM; GERMANY; HISTORY; HUMAN; INTERNATIONAL CLASSIFICATION OF DISEASES; PATHOGENESIS; PATIENT COMPLIANCE; QT PROLONGATION; REMISSION; REVIEW; SHARED PSYCHOTIC DISORDER; SYSTEMATIC REVIEW;

ANTIPSYCHOTIC AGENTS; CLINICAL TRIALS AS TOPIC; DELUSIONS; ECTOPARASITIC INFESTATIONS; HUMANS; TREATMENT OUTCOME;

EID: 34548779627     PISSN: 00071250     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.106.029660     Document Type: Review

References (82)

1. Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (1992) AHCPR Publication 92-0032. AHCPR.
2. American Psychiatric Association (2000) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th edn, text revision). APA.
3. Andrews, E., Bellard, J. & Walter-Ryan, W. G. (1986) Monosymptomatic hypochondriacal psychosis manifesting as delusions of infestation: case studies of treatment with haloperidol. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 47, 188-190.
4. Arnold, L. M. (2000) Psychocutaneous disorders. In Kaplan & Sadock's Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry (7th edn on CD-ROM) (eds B. I. Sadock & V. A. Sadock), chapter 25.7. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.
5. Avnstorp, C., Hamann, K. & Jepsen, P. W. (1980) Parasitforrykthed behandlet ned pimozid (Orap(R)) [Delusions of parasite infestation treated with pimozide (Orap)]. Ugeskrift for Laeger, 142, 2191-2192.
6. Aw, D. C., Thong, J. Y. & Chan, H. L. (2004) Delusional parasitosis: case series of 8 patients and review of the literature. Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore, 33, 89-94.
7. Baumer, L. (1951) Die Behandlung des Juckreizes insbesondere beim 'Dermatozoenwahn' mit Elektroschock [The treatment of itching with ECT, specifically in delusional parasitosis]. Hautarzt, 2, 131-132.
8. Benkert, O. & Hippius, H. (2005) Kompendium der Psychiatrischen Pharmakotherapie [Compendium of psychiatric pharmacotherapy] (5th edn). Springer.
9. Berrios, G. E. (1985) Delusional parasitosis and physical disease. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 26, 395-403.
10. Bers, N. & Conrad, K. (1954) Die chronische taktile Halluzinose [The chronic tactile hallucinosis]. Fortschritte Neurologie Psychiatrie, 22, 254-270.
11. Bhatia, M. S., Jagawat, T. & Choudhary, S. (2000) Delusional parasitosis: a clinical profile. International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 30, 83-91.
12. Bourgeois, M. & Nguyen-Lan, A. (1986) Syndrome d'Ekbom et délires d'infestation cutanée. I. Revue de la littérature [Ekbom's syndrome and delusion of skin infestation. I. Review of the literature]. Annales Medico Psychologiques (Paris). 144, 321-340.
13. Bourgeois, M., Rager, P., Peyre, F., et al (1986) Fréquence et aspects du syndrome d'Ekbom enquête auprès des dermatologues francais (A propos de 150 cas) [Prevalence and symptomatology of Ekbom's Syndrome treated by French dermatologists (150 cases)]. Annales Medico Psychologiques (Paris), 144, 659-668.
14. Charcellay, P. (1843) Annales médico-psychologiques, II. 485 (zitiert nach Griesinger W. Die Pathologie und Therapie der psychischen Krankheiten [The Pathology and Therapy of Psychological Illnesses]. Krabbe, Stuttgart (1861).
15. Chiu, H. F. K., Ungvari, G. S. & Wong, C. K. (1996) Delusional parasitosis in the elderly: treatment with sulpiride. Clinical Gerontologist, 16, 62-65.
16. De Leon, O. A., Furmaga, K. M., Canterbury, A. L., et al (1997) Risperidone in the treatment of delusions of infestation. International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 27, 403-409.
17. Driscoll, M. S., Rothe, M. J., Grant-Kels, J. M., et al (1993) Delusional parasitosis: a dermatologic, psychiatric, and pharmacologic approach. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 29, 1023-1033.
18. Ekbom, K. A. (1938) Der praesenile Dermatozoenwahn [Presenile delusional parasitosis]. Acta Psychiatrica Neurologica Scandinavica, 13, 227-259.
19. Food and Drug Administration (1996) Pimozide (Orap) contraindicated with clarithromycin (Biaxin) and other macrolide antibiotics. FDA Medical Bulletin, 26. http://www.fda.gov/medbull/oct96/ pimozide.html
20. Freudenmann, R. W. (2002) Der 'Dermatozoenwahn'. Eine aktuelle Übersicht. [Delusions of parasitosis: an up-to-date review]. Fortschritte der Neurologie Psychiatrie, 70, 531-541.
21. Freudenmann, R. W. (2003) Ein Fall von 'Dermatozoenwahn' bei schwerer Herzinsuffizienz. Olanzapin im Rahmen einer multimodalen Therapie. [A case of delusional parasitosis in severe heart failure. Olanzapine within the framework of a multimodal therapy]. Nervenarzt, 74, 591-595.
22. Freudenmann, R. W. & Schönfeldt-Lecuona, C. (2005) Delusional parasitosis: treatment with atypical antipsychotics. Annals of the Academy of Medicine Singapore, 34, 141-142.
23. Freudenmann, R. W. & Lepping, P. (2006) Dopaminergic antipsychotics in delusional parasitosis (author reply). Progress in Neurology and Psychiatry, 10, 20.
24. Freudenmann, R. W., Schönfeldt-Lecuona, C. & Lepping, P. (2007) Primary delusional parasitosis treated with olanzapine. International Psychogeriatrics, DOI: 10.1017/S1041610207004814.
25. Freyne, A. & Wrigley, M. (1994) Delusional infestation in an elderly population. Irish Medical Journal, 87, 86-88.
26. Freyne, A., Kenny, E. & Cooney, C. (1999) Delusions of infestation - a case report of response to risperidone. Irish Medical Journal, 92, 435.
27. Frithz, A. (1979) Delusions of infestation: treatment by depot injections of neuroleptics. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 4, 485-488.
28. Gallucci, G. & Beard, G. (1995) Risperidone and the treatment of delusions of parasitosis in an elderly patient. Psychosomatics, 36, 578-580.
29. Ganner, H. & Lorenzi, E. (1975) Der Dermatozoenwahn [Delusional parasitosis]. Psychiatrica Clinica, 8, 31-44.
30. Gould, W. M. & Gragg, T. M. (1976) Delusions of parasitosis. An approacn to the problem. Archives of Dermatology, 112, 1745-1748.
31. Hamann, K. & Avnstorp, C. (1982) Delusions of infestation treated by pimozide: a double blind crossover clinical study. Acta Dermato-Venereologica, 62, 55-58.
32. Harbauer, H. (1949) Das Syndrom des 'Dermatozoenwahns' (Ekbom) [The syndrome of delusional parasitosis]. Nervenarzt, 20, 254-258.
33. Hopkinson, G. (1970) Delusions of infestation. Acta Psychiatrica Scandmavica, 46, 111-119.
34. Huber, G. (1957) Die coenästhetische Schizophrenie. Fortschritte der Neurologie Psychiatrie, 25, 491-520.
35. Jördens, J. H. (1801) Entomologie und Helminthologie des menschlichen Körpers oder Beschreibung der Bewohner und Feinde desselben unter den Insekten und Würmern [Entomology and helminthology of the human body or the description of the inhabitants and enemies of the same among insects and parasites]. Grau.
36. Kim, C., Kim, J., Lee, M., et al (2003) Delusional parasitosis as 'folie a deux'. Journal of Korean Medical Science, 18, 462-465.
37. Kumbier, E. & Kornhuber, M. (2002) [Delusional ectoparasitic infestation in multiple system atrophy]. Nervenarzt, 73, 378-381.
38. Le, L. & Gonski, P. N. (2003) Delusional parasitosis mimicking cutaneous infestation in elderly patients. Medical Journal of Australia, 179, 209-210.
39. Lepping, P., Gil-Candon, R. & Freudenmann, R. W. (2005) Delusional parasitosis treated with amisulpride. Progress in Neurology and Psychiatry, 9, 12-16.
40. Lepping, P., Gil-Candon, R. & Freudenmann, R. W. (2006) Amisulpride as first line treatment for delusional parasitosis. Progress in Neurology and Psychiatry, 10, 28.
41. Lindskov, R. & Baadsgaard, O. (1985) Delusions of infestation treated with pimozide: a follow-up study. Acta Dermato-Venereologica, 65, 267-270.
42. Lyell, A. (1983) Delusions of parasitosis (The Michelson lecture). British Journal of Dermatology, 108, 485-499.
43. Lynch, P. J. (1993) Delusions of parasitosis. Seminars in Dermatology, 12, 39-45.
44. Magnan, V. & Saury, M. (1889) Trois cas de cocainisme chronique [Three cases of chronic cocaine abuse]. Comptes rendus des séances de la Societé de Biologie, 60-63.
45. May, W. W. & Terpenning, M. S. (1991) Delusional parasitosis in geriatric patients. Psychosomatics, 32, 88-94.
46. Moretti, M. & Varga, G. (2000) Pszichiátriai kórképek börtünetei [Psychosomatic dermatologic symptoms]. Orvari Hetilap, 141, 169-172.
47. Munro, A. (1978a) Monosymptomatic hypochondriacal psychosis manifesting as delusions of parasitosis. A description of four cases successfuly treated with pimozide. Archives of Dermatology, 114, 940-943.
48. Munro, A. (1978b) Two cases of delusions of worm infestation. American Journal of Psychiatry, 135, 234-235.
49. Munro, A. (1982) Delusional Hypochondriasis. A Description of Monosymptomatic Hypochondriacal Psychosis (MHP). Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto.
50. Musalek, M. (1991) Der Dermatozoenwahn [Delusional parasitosis]. Thieme.
51. Musalek, M. & Kutzer, E. (1989) Psychiatrische und parasitologische Aspekte des Dermatozoenwahnes [Psychiatric and parasitologic aspects of dermatozoon delusion]. Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift, 101, 153-160.
52. Musalek, M., Bach, M., Gerstberger, K., et al (1989) Zur Pharmakotherapie des Dermatozoenwahns. Die Bedeutung der Differentiaidiagnose für die psychopharmakologische Behandlung von Dermatozoenwahnkranken [Drug therapy of delusional parasitosis. The importance of differential diagnosis for psychopharmacologic treatment of patients with delusional parasitosis]. Wiener Medizinische Wochenschrift, 139, 297-302.
53. National Institute for Clinical Excellence (2002) Schizophrenia. Core Interventions in the Treatment and Management of Schizophrenia in Primary and Secondary Care. NICE.
54. Nel, M., Schoeman, J. P. & Lobetti, R. G. (2001) Delusions of parasitosis in clients presenting pets for veterinary care. Journal of the South African Veterinary Association, 72, 167-169.
55. Paean, P., Reich, A. & Szepietowski, J. C. (2004) Erfolgreiche kontrolle von dermatozoenwahn mit risperdal - zwei Fallberichte [Delusional parasitosis successfully controlled with risperidone - two case reports]. Dermatologie und Psychosomatik, 5, 193-195.
56. Paholpak, S. (1990) Delusion of parasitosis: a report of ten cases at Srinagarind Hospital. Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand, 73, 111-114.
57. Perrin, L. (1896) Des névrodermies parasitophobiques [On parasitophobic neurodermal diseases]. Annales de Dermatologie et Syphilographie (Paris), 7, 129-138.
58. Rasanen, P., Erkonen, K., Isaksson, U., et al (1997) Delusional parasitosis in the elderly: a review and report of six cases from northern Finland. International Psychogeriatrics, 9, 459-464.
59. Reilly, T. & Batchelor, D. (1986) The presentation and treatment of delusional parasitosis: a dermatological perspective. International Clinical Psychopharmacology, 1, 340-353.
60. Riding, J. & Munro, A. (1975) Pimozide in the treatment of monosymptomatic hypochondriacal psychosis. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 52, 23-30.
61. Safer, D. L., Wenegrat, B. & Roth, W. T. (1997) Risperidone in the treatment of delusional parasitosis: a case report. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 17, 131-132.
62. Scheinfeld, N. (2003) Delusions of parasitosis: a case with a review of its course and treatment. Skinmed, 2, 376-378.
63. Sheppard, N. P., O'Loughlin, S. & Malone, J. P. (1986) Psychogenic skin disease: a review of 35 cases. British Journal of Psychiatry, 149, 636-643.
64. Slaughter, J. R., Zanol, K., Rezvani, H., et al (1998) Psychogenic parasitosis. A case series and literature review. Psychosomatics, 39, 491-500.
65. Srinivasan, T. N., Suresh, T. R., Jayaram, V., et al (1994) Nature and treatment of delusional parasitosis: a different experience in India. International Journal of Dermatology, 33, 851-855.
66. Takahashi, T., Ozawa, H., Inuzuka, S., et al (2003) Sulpiride for treatment of delusion of parasitosis. Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, 57, 552-553.
67. Thibierge, G. (1894) Les acarophobes [The acarophobics]. Revue Générale de Clinique et de Thérapeutique, 32, 373-376.
68. Trabert, W. (1993) Der Dermatozoenwahn. Untersuchungen zur Häufigkeit, Klassifikation und Prognose [Delusional parasitosis. Studies on prevalence, classification and prognosis]. Homburg/Saar.
69. Trabert, W. (1995) 100 years of delusional parasitosis. Meta-analysis of 1,223 case reports. Psychopathology, 28, 238-246.
70. Trabert, W. (1997) 100 Jahre Dermatozoenwahn [100 years of delusional parasitosis]. Medizinische Welt, 48, 33-37.
71. Ungvari, G. (1983) A börférgesség-téboly neuroleptikus kezelése. Ideggy Szemle, 36, 391-397.
72. Ungvari, G. (1984) Behandlung des Dermatozoenwahns durch Neuroleptika [Treatment of delusional parasitosis with neuroleptics]. Psychiatrische Praxis, 11, 116-119.
73. Ungvari, G. & Vladar, K. (1984) Pimozid-Therapie des Dermatozoenwahns [Pimozide treatment for delusion of infestation]. Dermatology Monatsschr, 170, 443-447.
74. Ungvari, G. & Vladar, K. (1986) Pimozide treatment for delusion of infestation. Activitas Nervosa Superior (Praha), 28, 103-107.
75. van Vloten, W. A. (2003) Pimozide: use in dermatology. Dermatology Online Journal, 9, 3.
76. Wenning, M. T., Davy, L. E., Catalano, G., et al (2003) Atypical antipsychotics and the treatment of delusional parasitosis. Annals of Clinical Psychiatry, 15, 233-239.
77. Willan, R. (1799) Die Hautkrankheiten und ihre Behandlung [Dermatological illnesses and their treatment] translated by F. G. Friese. Breslau Hirschberg Lissa in Südpreussen: Korn.
78. Winsten, M. (1997) Delusional parasitosis: a practical guide for the family practitioner in evaluation and treatment strategies. Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, 97, 95-99.
79. World Health Organization (1993) The ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders: Diagnostic Criteria for Research. WHO.
80. Wykoff, R. F. (1987) Delusions of parasitosis: a review. Review of Infectious Disorders, 9, 433-437.
81. Zanol, K., Slaughter, J. & Hall, R. (1998) An approach to the treatment of psychogenic parasitosis. International Journal of Dermatology, 37, 56-63.
82. Zomer, S. F., De Wit, R. F., Van Bronswijk, J. E., et al (1998) Delusions of parasitosis. A psychiatric disorder to be treated by dermatologists? An analysis of 33 patients. British Journal of Dermatology, 138, 1030-1032.