Tales of Bugs, Delusions of Parasitosis, and What to Do

The document from 2009 discusses delusions of parasitosis, where individuals mistakenly believe they have insects crawling on their skin. It presents four case studies where patients were treated with skin applications and escitalopram, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. The treatment showed promise, with fewer side effects than the previously used pimozide. The paper highlights the importance of identifying life stressors and physician-patient communication in managing symptoms and differentiates parasitophobia from Morgellons disease and Munchausen syndrome. It concludes that escitalopram could be an effective treatment for delusions of parasitosis and possibly Morgellons disease, underscoring the need to address psychological factors.