Antipsychotic treatment of primary delusional parasitosis: systematic review.
BACKGROUND
Little is known about the treatment of delusional parasitosis with typical and atypical antipsychotics.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of typical and atypical antipsychotics in primary delusional parasitosis (delusional disorder, somatic type).


METHODS
A systematic review was conducted.


RESULTS
No randomised trials were found and hence we collected the best evidence from 16 other trials and case reports, separating primary from other forms of delusional parasitosis. Studies using typical antipsychotics showed partial or full remission in between 60 and 100% of patients. Analysis of selected patients with primary delusional parasitosis showed that typical and atypical antipsychotics were effective in the majority, but that remission rates did not differ significantly between typical and atypical antipsychotics.


CONCLUSIONS
In the absence of controlled trials there is limited evidence that antipsychotics are effective in primary delusional parasitosis. Rigorous studies are needed to evaluate their effectiveness and to compare typical and atypical antipsychotics directly.
Lepping
Peter
P
North Wales Section of Psychological Medicine, Wrexham Academic Unit, Technology Park, Wrexham, LL13 7YP, UK. peter.lepping@new-tr.wales.nhs.uk
Russell
Ian
I
Freudenmann
Roland W
RW
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003702:Delusions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004478:Ectoparasitic Infestations / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents