title: Frequency of delusional infestation by proxy and double delusional infestation in veterinary practice: observational study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nothing is known about the prevalence of delusional infestation in veterinary practice and the consequences for psychiatrists.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We attempted to examine the frequency of delusional infestation among pet owners presenting their animals to veterinary clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a survey among 32 663 veterinary clinicians who were members of the Veterinary Information Network.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The respondents had seen 724 suspected cases of delusional infestation by proxy in a pet. The clients were mainly White, female and 30-60 years old. They presented mainly dogs and cats, and the alleged infestation was mainly with arthropods or worms. Also, 252 clients claimed to be affected themselves; we termed this 'double delusional infestation'.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Delusional infestation is seen frequently in veterinary practice. Psychiatrists need to be aware that patients may have pets they believe are infested.
authors.affiliation: Peter Lepping, MRCPsych, MSc, Centre for Mental Health and Society, Bangor University, UK, and Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, India; Mark Rishniw, BVSc, MS, PhD, DACVIM, Veterinary Information Network, Davis, California, USA; Roland W. Freudenmann, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lepping
authors.affiliation: Peter Lepping, MRCPsych, MSc, Centre for Mental Health and Society, Bangor University, UK, and Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, India; Mark Rishniw, BVSc, MS, PhD, DACVIM, Veterinary Information Network, Davis, California, USA; Roland W. Freudenmann, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rishniw
authors.affiliation: Peter Lepping, MRCPsych, MSc, Centre for Mental Health and Society, Bangor University, UK, and Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, India; Mark Rishniw, BVSc, MS, PhD, DACVIM, Veterinary Information Network, Davis, California, USA; Roland W. Freudenmann, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Roland W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Freudenmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002415:Cats; D003625:Data Collection; D063726:Delusional Parasitosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006762:Hospitals, Animal; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057805:Pets; D015995:Prevalence; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology