Delusional infestation versus Morgellons disease

• Published in: Clinics in dermatology 2018-11, Vol.36 (6), p.714-718
• Main Authors: Hylwa, Sara A., MD, Ronkainen, Sanna D., MD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomedical Research; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.); Delusional Parasitosis - epidemiology; Delusional Parasitosis - pathology; Delusional Parasitosis - psychology; Dermatology; Humans; Internet; Morgellons Disease - epidemiology; Morgellons Disease - pathology; Morgellons Disease - psychology; Terminology as Topic; United States - epidemiology
• ISSN: 0738-081X; 1879-1131
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2018.08.007

Abstract Delusional infestation is the conviction that one is infested with pathogens—either animate or inanimate—despite medical or microbiologic evidence to the contrary. Infestation with inanimate pathogens, specifically fibers or filaments, has been controversially termed Morgellons disease by the patients themselves, who believe that this is not a psychiatric disease but rather a new organic condition or a skin manifestation of an infection, such as Lyme disease. A large-scale study by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention on patients presenting with Morgellons clinical manifestations did not find evidence of fibers in the skin nor an association with any infection, including Lyme disease. Once the diagnosis of delusional infestation is made, the cornerstone of treatment is antipsychotics, although this is often quite challenging, as patients are reluctant to take these medications.