Atypical anti-psychotics in delusional parasitosis: a retrospective case series of 20 patients.
BACKGROUND
Delusional Parasitosis (DP) is a relatively uncommon condition wherein there is a fixed belief that one is infested with living organisms despite a lack of medical evidence of such infestation. Pimozide has been mooted as specific for the treatment of this condition. Atypical anti-psychotics have received attention in recent years.


METHODS
We describe the clinical features and treatment responses in a retrospective review of 20 cases treated at this department over a 5 year period, and selectively review the literature.


RESULTS
The majority were treated with atypical anti-psychotics and all subjects who followed up showed varying degrees of clinical improvement irrespective of the anti-psychotic used.


CONCLUSIONS
The evidence for pimozide as first line drug in DP is limited to one small, non-randomized placebo-controlled trial. DP responds well to most anti-psychotics. Prospective randomized trials are needed to clarify optimal treatment of this relatively rare but debilitating condition.
Kenchaiah
Basanth Kumar
BK
Department of Psychiatry, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India. basanth24@hotmail.com
Kumar
Sebind
S
Tharyan
Prathap
P
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004478:Ectoparasitic Infestations / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007099:Imipramine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077152:Olanzapine; D010868:Pimozide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018967:Risperidone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D012563:Schizophrenia, Paranoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D020280:Sertraline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D005473:Fluoxetine; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D010868:Pimozide; D006220:Haloperidol; D018967:Risperidone; D000077152:Olanzapine; D007099:Imipramine; D020280:Sertraline