Delusional infestation and the specimen sign: a European multicentre study in 148 consecutive cases

The British Journal of Dermatology
R W FreudenmannA P Bewley

Abstract

Systematic studies of delusional infestation (DI), also known as delusional parasitosis, are scarce. They lack either dermatological or psychiatric detail. Little is known about the specimens that patients provide to prove their infestation. There is no study on the current presentation of DI in Europe. To determine the number of true infestations, to assess with which pathogens patients believe themselves to be infested, and to gather details about the frequency and nature of the specimens and the containers used to store them, based on European study centres. Retrospective study of consecutive cases with suspected DI from six centres (Dermatology, Psychiatry, Tropical Medicine) in four European countries (U.K., Germany, Italy, France). In total, 148 consecutive cases of suspected DI were included, i.e. the largest cohort reported. None of the patients had evidence of a genuine infestation, as shown by examinations by dermatologists and/or infectious disease specialists. Only 35% believed themselves to be infested by parasites; the majority reported a large number of other living or inanimate (17%) pathogens. Seventy-one patients (48%) presented with what they believed was proof of their infestation. These specimens were mostl...Continue Reading

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Citations

Apr 3, 2013·Annales de dermatologie et de vénéréologie·A Petit
Jan 19, 2013·Annales de dermatologie et de vénéréologie·L Misery
Dec 15, 2015·Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology. Journal Canadien D'ophtalmologie·Mustafa Kapasi, David Jordan
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Nov 9, 2016·The American Journal of Emergency Medicine·C Rodríguez-CerdeiraUNKNOWN Pychodermatology group of CILAD
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Oct 5, 2020·Enfermedades infecciosas y microbiología clínica·Beatriz Rodríguez-AlonsoJosé-Luis Pérez-Arellano

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