title: [Delusional infestation, a therapeutic challenge].
abstract: Delusional infestation, formally known as delusional parasitosis, poses a therapeutic challenge. This article provides tools to engage these patients with psychiatric treatment. We present two men aged 49 and 48 who saw the dermatologist with skin symptoms due to primary and secondary delusional infestation, respectively. Despite their anosognosia, both patients were successfully treated with antipsychotics thanks to the collaboration between dermatology and psychiatry. To increase the acceptability of treatment with antipsychotics, emphasis should be placed on their antipruritic properties and the effect on degree of preoccupation with the infection rather than their antipsychotic properties. Follow-up is important, as patients mostly do not attribute their recovery to antipsychotics and the risk of recurrence is high after cessation of antipsychotic medication.
authors.affiliation: Koninklijke Luchtmacht.
authors.forename: Yara Q
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Jagt
authors.forename: Arjen L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Sutterland
authors.forename: Julia H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Meijer
authors.forename: Marloes S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Oudijn
authors.forename: Patrick M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Kemperman
authors.forename: Nienke C C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Vulink
authors.forename: Lieuwe
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Haan
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003702:Delusions / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012876:Skin Diseases, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents