title: Morgellons disease?
abstract: Morgellons disease, a pattern of dermatologic symptoms very similar, if not identical, to those of delusions of parasitosis, was first described many centuries ago, but has recently been given much attention on the internet and in the mass media. The present authors present a history of Morgellons disease, in addition to which they discuss the potential benefit of using this diagnostic term as a means of building trust and rapport with patients to maximize treatment benefit. The present authors also suggest "meeting the patient halfway" and creating a therapeutic alliance when providing dermatologic treatment by taking their cutaneous symptoms seriously enough to provide both topical ointments as well as antipsychotic medications, which can be therapeutic in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Education, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA. Robert.accordino@mssm.edu
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Accordino
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Engler
authors.forename: Iona H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Ginsburg
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koo
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003702:Delusions / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012876:Skin Diseases, Parasitic / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents