A Review on Ekbom Syndrome JEZS 2019; 7(3): 894-900 © 2019 JEZS Received: 21-03-2019 Accepted: 25-04-2019 PP Pradhan, RN Borkakati and DK Saikia

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

A Review on Ekbom Syndrome JEZS 2019; 7(3): 894-900 © 2019 JEZS Received: 21-03-2019 Accepted: 25-04-2019 PP Pradhan, RN Borkakati and DK Saikia Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2019; 7(3): 894-900 E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 A review on Ekbom Syndrome JEZS 2019; 7(3): 894-900 © 2019 JEZS Received: 21-03-2019 Accepted: 25-04-2019 PP Pradhan, RN Borkakati and DK Saikia PP Pradhan Department of Entomology, Abstract Assam Agricultural University, Ekbom Syndrome synonymous with Delusional Parasitosis, is a turmoil in the mind of patient wherein Jorhat, Assam, India people erroneously trust that they are pervaded with parasites, insects, or bugs, while as a general rule no such invasion is available. People experiencing this kind of disorder arrogantly believe the feelings of RN Borkakati tactile sensations and the imaginary presence of insect, although nobody else can see those. Morgellons Department of Entomology, malady is a doubtful condition expressed by a fixed conviction that fibers that are imbedded or expelling Assam Agricultural University, from the skin; this condition is also falls in the range of Delusional Parasitosis. Ekbom Syndrome is a Jorhat, Assam, India capricious condition; it is unmanageable and can't be redressed by argument or proof. Ekbom Syndrome sufferers display a scope of unsurprising practices in their endeavors to take out their pervasions, DK Saikia including looking for distinguishing pieces of proof and treatment from physicians and entomologists. Department of Entomology, Moreover, they may additionally experience co-morbid psychological conditions. Since this is a Assam Agricultural University, delusional affliction, effective treatment commonly requires intervention by therapeutic experts as well Jorhat, Assam, India as need based antipsychotics. From an investigation, it was observed that disturbed reasoning and judgment were present in all cases of DI as against only 82% (27 of 32 patients) tactile symptoms, the picture is better clear by the disturbed thought. Keywords: Delusion, infestation, imperceptible bug, formication 1. Introduction Ekbom Syndrome (ES) can likewise be called as Delusional Parasitosis (DP), delusions of parasitosis, delusion of infestation, psychogenic parasitosis, or dermatozoenwahn (dermatozoic delusion) [1-5]. Ekbom syndrome or Delusional parasitosis (DP), is characterized as a delusional disorder where there is a fixed, unshakeable, and mixed up conviction by the patient that he or she is pervaded with parasites [6, 7]. A delusion is a false belief that is not consistent with the patient’s intelligence, educational level, or cultural background, and that cannot be corrected [8] by reasoning . Patients who are experiencing this disorder expresses false believe to feel vibe of insects slithering under skin and furthermore can visualize them however no one else can observe it. These invasions are seen as tactile sensations (e.g., stinging, burning, itching, or crawling) and envisioned in an assortment of structures. ES should not be mistaken for Wittmaack-Ekbom Syndrome, the medical term for restless legs disorder; nor should it be [9] mistaken for entomophobia, the anxiety of insects, or acarophobia, the fear for mites . Those affected with ES usually experience visual and tactile hallucinations perceived as bugs crawling in or on the skin. These perceptual delusions might be monosymptomatic pathological components and not recognize as seriously as if it is not a disorder. Patients have various names for the creatures they perceive to pervade them, such as insects, larvae, organisms, parasites, worms and beasties. The most widely recognized term is bug, which is used in the sense used by ES patients. A comparative condition called Morgellons Syndrome is said to include putative invasion of the skin by fibers [10]. Since Morgellons does not include insects, it isn't synonymous with DP [11-14] yet likely is a variation inside the equivalent delusional complex . 2. History The Parisian dermatologist Georges Thibierge in 1894, is normally credited with the discovery and point out the therapeutic portrayal of the clinical picture. Thibierge called the influenced [15] Correspondence people "les acarophobes" [ancient Greek "akari" =mite, antiquated Greek "phobos" =fear] . PP Pradhan The sufferer had the bogus conviction that they had affected with scabies. The author Department of Entomology, mentioned briefly about the two subgroups: the individuals who truly had scabies previously Assam Agricultural University, (and were cured) and the individuals who never had it. Thibierge likewise expressed that a Jorhat, Assam, India comparable picture happens in cocainism, as he learned from Saury and Seglas at a congress ~ 894 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies on mental health in Rouen (France) in 1890 [16]. Just after two ecological factors, for example, airborne aggravations, are fit years, the dermatologist Perrin from Marseille (France) for prompting a "crawling" sensation in healthy people; displayed three comprehensive case studies, utilizing the unfortunately, a group of people become focused on that name "des nevropathies parasitophobiques" [16]. They focused particular sensation which leads delusional parasitosis. on that patients had the dismal conviction of having a parasitic pervasion. In another case, as indicated by Tarbert's 4. Portrayal of sufferers comprehensive historical literature search [17], the clinical Primary DP happens autonomously of any medical condition. picture was first referenced by Robert Willan in 1799 and Conversely, secondary DP goes with a physiological Johann Heinrich Jordens in 1801. However, Musalek [18] circumstance that produces paresthesia, pruritus, erythema, discovered a patient with delusions of intestinal parasitosis rash, or different side effects that are then confounded as (Enterozoenwahn) in an article from 1843. On the other hand, undetectable bugs in the skin [19]. Although people may feel Karl Axel Ekbom [2], the Swedish neurologist depicted eight genuine dermal sensations, the hallucination is a consequence patients with the silly conviction that they were pervaded with of the brain endeavoring to recognize the proximal reason, little creatures, for example, insects or mites, a condition he prompting their understandings of skin debris as living beings called 'Dermatozoewahn' or 'delusion of animal life in skin'. producing the stings, prickling, nibbles, or slithering He published seminal accounts of the disease in 1937 and sensations [3]. Pruritus is the most generally reported 1938 and the disease was named after him. sensation, regularly found in over 80% of sufferers [20], with different feelings portrayed as creeping, tunneling, and 3. Classification gnawing [21, 22]. Obviously, there is a distinction between Delusional parasitosis is divided into three Groups viz., feeling odd sensations in or on the skin and presuming that primary, secondary functional, and secondary organic groups. they are created by imperceptible bugs. Thus, while sufferers react legitimately by endeavoring, to view and gather the 3.1 Primary causative agent, their determined declarations that scabs and The name "primary" DI was first presented by Skott in 1978. hair are to be insects is demonstrative of delusion [11, 23]. This disorder can't be clarified by some other condition and has been depicted as monosymptomatic, circumscript, or 4.1 Behaviors segregated. The diagnosis is valid for disorders characterized Sufferers endeavor to expel parasites by picking and delving by non-bizarre delusions of at least 1-month’s duration and into the skin, creating abrasion, scarification, lacerations, and unremarkable cognitive and social functioning with normal different sores [24, 25]. Self-mutilation to remove the parasites behavior. Therapeutic specialists allude to this phenomenon is inflicted by fingernails or teeth [23], as well as mechanical as "monosymptomatic hypochondriacal psychosis", and at executes, for example, needles [26], tweezers, knives [27], razor times as "true" delusional parasitosis. In the Diagnostic and blades and other sharp instruments [21, 25, 28]. One lady had her Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM- sister rub her body with a blade after each shower to expel the IV), it relates with "delusional disorder, somatic type". parasites, with the scrapings deliberately discarded by burning [5] . Another lacerated her conjunctiva while endeavoring to [29] 3.2 Secondary functional extricate a "worm" from her eye with tweezers . One man Secondary functional delusional parasitosis occurs when the went through 25 years burrowing "worms" out of his scrotum with disposable cutters; he was occasionally hospitalized and delusions are associated with a psychiatric condition such as [28] schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder or clinical given blood transfusions to neutralize the resultant anemia . depression. This self-mutilation may result in extreme blood loss, contaminations and permanent scarring [28, 30]. Since they perceive the parasites as attempting to rise up out of the skin, 3.3 Secondary organic sufferers regularly cut openings to allow escape [8]. The When a medical sickness or use of medical substances patient's presentation may likewise excoriations, bruising, (therapeutic or recreational) causes the patient’s manifestation traumatic hair loss, and contact dermatitis because of secondary organic delusional parasitosis occurs. In the DSM- medications [21] or pesticides [14, 31]. Regularly, the sufferer IV this circumstance relates with "psychotic disorder due to confuses these scabs, scraped areas, or skin irritation
Recommended publications
  • S15 Structural Pest Control, Category 7E, Pesticide Application Training
    PESTICIDE APPLICATION TRAINING Category 7E Structural Pest Control Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service 2 Table of Contents Integrated Pest Management in Structures 4 Pests Usually Reproducing Indoors 6 Cockroaches 6 Cockroach control 8 Silverfish and firebrats 10 Pests of stored food 12 Fabric pests 15 Occasional Invaders 19 Pests Annoying or Attacking People and Pets 29 Common flies in buildings 29 Spiders 31 Scorpions 34 Fleas 35 Ticks 36 Bed bug, bat bug and bird bugs 39 Wasps, bees and ants 40 Entomophobia 49 Fumigation 52 Types of fumigants 55 Preparation for fumigation 59 Application and post application 61 Safe use of fumigants 62 Vertebrate Pests 65 Birds 65 Rats and mice 70 Bats 77 Skunks 78 Tree squirrels 79 Raccoons 80 Directions for using this manual This is a self-teaching manual. At the end of each major section is a list of study questions to check your understanding of the subject matter. By each question in parenthesis is the page number on which the answer to that question can be found. This will help you in checking your answers. These study questions are representative of the type that are on the cer- tification examination. By reading this manual and answering the study questions, you should be able to gain sufficient knowledge to pass the Kansas Commercial Pesticide Applicators Certification examination. 3 Integrated Pest The prescription should include not Management in only what can be done for the cus- Insect pest management in struc- tomer, but also what the customer can Structures tures involves five basic steps: do in the way of habitat removal and 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Secondary Ekbom Syndrome to Organic Disorder: Report of Three Cases
    541 CASO CLÍNICO L Síndrome de Ekbom secundária a transtorno orgânico: relato de três casos * Secondary Ekbom Syndrome to organic disorder: report of three cases Cinthia Janine Meira Alves 1 Antônio Carlos Ceribelli Martelli 2 Leticia Fogagnolo 3 Priscila Wolf Nassif 4 Resumo: A Síndrome de Ekbom, também conhecida como delírio de parasitose ou acarofobia, é um esta- do fóbico obsessivo no qual o paciente pensa, imagina ou acredita que está infestado por parasitas na pele. Em estado alucinatório, retira fragmentos de pele, identificando-os como parasitas. Pode tratar-se de um quadro psiquiátrico primário ou secundário a outros transtornos orgânicos. Geralmente, esses pacientes demoram a procurar ajuda médica, e o dermatologista, quase sempre, é o primeiro profissional procurado. Descrevemos o caso de três pacientes dos quais apresentaram delírio de parasitose, associados a transtornos orgânicos. Palavras-chave: Delírio; Dermatologia; Prurido; Psiquiatria Abstract: The Ekbom syndrome, also known as delusion of parasitosis or acarophobia is an obsessive pho- bic state in which the patient thinks, imagines or believes that his or her skin is infested by parasites. In the hallucinatory state, he/she removes parts of the skin, identifying them as parasites. It can be primary or secondary to other organic or psychiatric diseases. Generally speaking these patients take a long time to seek for medical support and the dermatologist is almost always the first physician to see them. Here we describe three patients with delusional parasitosis associated with organic disorders. Keywords: Delirium; Dermatology; Pruritus; Psychiatry INTRODUÇÃO Descrita, inicialmente por Thiberge, em 1894, O início dos sintomas pode ser brusco ou lento com o termo acarofobia, a síndrome foi definida, em e com queixas de sensação de prurido, pinicamento, 1938, por Ekbom, que deu seu nome.
    [Show full text]
  • Delusions of Parasitosis; an Irrational Fear of Insects Explained
    FACT SHEET DELUSORY PARASITOSIS. THE BELIEF OF BEING LIVED ON BY ARTHROPODS OR OTHER ORGANISMS. Guide for Health Departments, Medical Communities, and Pest Management Professionals Dr. Gale E. Ridge Department of Entomology The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Introduction Delusory parasitosis, an unshakable belief or syndrome (Hopkinson 1970) of being attacked by insects, is a very difficult and under-diagnosed condition. It often starts with an actual event or medical condition (the trigger) that may progress over time into mental illness. For those who have had the problem over long time periods, the condition can sometimes consume a person’s life. Although patients may repeatedly seek help from experts, they may refuse to abandon their ideas for test results which contradict their invested beliefs (Sneddon 1983). Sufferers can become antagonistic and relentless in their need to find someone who will confirm their self-diagnoses (Murray and Ash 2004). Those with the obsession, often search the internet, finding web-sites that support their fears. Often under the falsehood of medical authority, some of these sites provide misguided advice and inaccurate information. Poorly informed misdiagnoses by medical professionals may also contribute to the problem. This is a very complex and difficult condition to manage, requiring dedication and time by trained professionals or an interdisciplinary team of experts. Naming the syndrome Because delusory parasitosis (DP) is medically amorphous, several medical specialists have been involved, e.g., psychiatrists, physicians, dermatologists, and medical entomologists. All have tried to define the condition. The term delusions of parasitosis was coined by Wilson and Miller (1946) dispelling earlier use of the words acarophobia (Thibierge 1894), entomophobia, and parasitophobia.
    [Show full text]
  • Delusional Parasitosis Mimicking Cutaneous Infestation in Elderly Patients
    LESSONS FROM PRACTICE LESSONS FROM PRACTICE Delusional parasitosis mimicking cutaneous infestation in elderly patients Clinical records Patient 1 Patient 3 An 88-year-old man gave a 12-month history of seeing insects attacking An 81-year-old woman was referred with a persistent belief that his legs and crawling along the floor of his house. He described these she had scabies and lice infestation of her eyes, nose, arms and insects as 4 cm long, black and white bugs with beaks, which pecked anus. This resulted in her persistently washing her clothes and at hisThe legs, Medical causing Journal wounds. of He Australia often felt ISSN:a sharp 0025-729X stinging sensation 18 herself and reporting the retirement village where she lived to the heraldingAugust their 2003 presence. 179 4 209-210 He also had burning pain in both legs below Health Department. She had received anti-scabies treatment the knees. He had had his house fumigated twice in the previous year empirically. ©The Medical Journal of Australia 2003 www.mja.com.au andLessons put various from chemicals practice across his doorways and bed to ward off the She had a long history of severe depression after the death of her bugs. He described no other hallucinations or delusions. husband, for which she took doxepin. She had paranoid ideation He was not using any regular medications and had never been a about her neighbours and saw things crawling down the walls, consumer of alcohol. He lived alone and managed all activities of and had moved residences several times to avoid these problems.
    [Show full text]
  • Monosymptomatic Hypochondriacal Psychosis (Somatic Delusional Disorder): a Report of Two Cases
    SCIENTIFIC LETTER | http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajpsy.v16i2.11 Afr J Psychiatry 2013;16:87-91 Monosymptomatic Hypochondriacal Psychosis (somatic delusional disorder): A report of two cases Historically, the term Monosymptomatic Hypochondriacal abusing any psychoactive substances and was said to be well Psychosis (MHP) was first used by Munro in 1978. 1 MHP is adjusted premorbidly. Based on history and examination, she classified as a somatic type of delusional disorder in DSM- IV 2 was managed as a case of paranoid schizophrenia (with and is defined as an erroneous conviction of bodily disease, olfactory reference syndrome) and was treated with abnormality or alteration. 3 It includes delusional beliefs about haloperidol 15mg daily to which she responded positively bodily sensations or functions; such as feeling malodorous, after one week. As of when she was seen last in the out-patient being infected by parasites, having dysmorphic features, or clinic, she remained stable on maintenance dose of that a certain organ is no longer functioning. 4 MHP has been haloperidol 5mg nocte. divided into 4 main categories: Delusions of infestation Mr B was a 45 year old married, Christian saw-miller who (including parasitosis); delusions of dysmorphophobia, such presented with a year and a half history of the feeling that as of misshapenness, personal ugliness, or exaggerated size insects were crawling all over his body, a mucus substance of body parts (this seems closest to that of body dysmorphic entering his eyes and a three month history of inadequate disorder); delusions of foul body odours or halitosis or sleep. The insects were of different sizes and shapes (cubiodal delusional bromosis (also known as olfactory reference and cylindrical).
    [Show full text]
  • List of Phobias: Beaten by a Rod Or Instrument of Punishment, Or of # Being Severely Criticized — Rhabdophobia
    Beards — Pogonophobia. List of Phobias: Beaten by a rod or instrument of punishment, or of # being severely criticized — Rhabdophobia. Beautiful women — Caligynephobia. 13, number — Triskadekaphobia. Beds or going to bed — Clinophobia. 8, number — Octophobia. Bees — Apiphobia or Melissophobia. Bicycles — Cyclophobia. A Birds — Ornithophobia. Abuse, sexual — Contreltophobia. Black — Melanophobia. Accidents — Dystychiphobia. Blindness in a visual field — Scotomaphobia. Air — Anemophobia. Blood — Hemophobia, Hemaphobia or Air swallowing — Aerophobia. Hematophobia. Airborne noxious substances — Aerophobia. Blushing or the color red — Erythrophobia, Airsickness — Aeronausiphobia. Erytophobia or Ereuthophobia. Alcohol — Methyphobia or Potophobia. Body odors — Osmophobia or Osphresiophobia. Alone, being — Autophobia or Monophobia. Body, things to the left side of the body — Alone, being or solitude — Isolophobia. Levophobia. Amnesia — Amnesiphobia. Body, things to the right side of the body — Anger — Angrophobia or Cholerophobia. Dextrophobia. Angina — Anginophobia. Bogeyman or bogies — Bogyphobia. Animals — Zoophobia. Bolsheviks — Bolshephobia. Animals, skins of or fur — Doraphobia. Books — Bibliophobia. Animals, wild — Agrizoophobia. Bound or tied up — Merinthophobia. Ants — Myrmecophobia. Bowel movements, painful — Defecaloesiophobia. Anything new — Neophobia. Brain disease — Meningitophobia. Asymmetrical things — Asymmetriphobia Bridges or of crossing them — Gephyrophobia. Atomic Explosions — Atomosophobia. Buildings, being close to high
    [Show full text]
  • Delusional Parasitosis in Dementia With
    Ochiai et al. Ann Gen Psychiatry (2019) 18:29 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-019-0253-3 Annals of General Psychiatry CASE REPORT Open Access Delusional parasitosis in dementia with Lewy bodies: a case report Sho Ochiai1, Hiroko Sugawara1*, Yusuke Kajio2, Hibiki Tanaka1, Tomohisa Ishikawa1, Ryuji Fukuhara1, Tadashi Jono1,3 and Mamoru Hashimoto4 Abstract Background: Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is characterized by fuctuating cognitive impairments, recurrent visual hallucinations, the motor symptoms of parkinsonism and REM sleep behavior disorder. Various neuropsychiatric symptoms including hallucination and delusions occur frequently; however, delusional parasitosis is rare in DLB. Here, we report a case of DLB patient with delusional parasitosis. Case presentation: The patient was an 89-year-old woman. At the age of 88, she began to complain her oral cen- esthopathy, and developed cognitive decline, delusional parasitosis and parkinsonism. As a result of examination, she was diagnosed as DLB and treated with combination of donepezil 5 mg/day and aripiprazole 1.5 mg/day, and her complaint was disappeared. Conclusions: Further studies are needed to investigate the association between delusional parasitosis and underly- ing pathophysiology of DLB, and the utility of antipsychotics for delusional parasitosis in DLB has to be examined through more cases. Keywords: DLB, Delusional parasitosis, Aripiprazole, Donepezil Background Delusional parasitosis, which is characterized by a Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is recognized as the fxed and persistent belief of having a pathogenic infec- second common type of progressive neurodegenera- tion despite objective evidence to the contrary, is more tive dementia in elderly people following Alzheimer’s common in dermatology rather than psychiatry [7].
    [Show full text]
  • Diagnosis and Management of Delusional Parasitosis
    Diagnosis and management of delusional parasitosis Elliott H. Campbell, BSc,a Dirk M. Elston, MD,b James D. Hawthorne, MD,c and David R. Beckert, MDd Lexington, Kentucky, and Charleston, South Carolina Delusional parasitosis is a monosymptomatic hypochondriacal state that causes great suffering for the patient and great suffering for those around them. Dermatologists are experts in the diagnosis of cutaneous disease and frequently encounter such patients. This review provides an overview of the diagnosis and management of delusional parasitosis and the differential diagnosis. ( J Am Acad Dermatol 2019;80:1428-34.) Key words: chronic tactile hallucinosis; delusional parasitosis; delusions of parasitosis; delusory parasitosis; Ekbom syndrome; psychogenic parasitosis. elusional parasitosis (DP), also commonly parasitosis, mood episodes have been brief relative D referred to as delusions of parasitosis, to the duration of the delusional period(s), and delusional infestation, or Ekbom syndrome, where the disturbance is not attributable to medical is a monosymptomatic hypochondriacal psychosis in conditions, substances, or another disorder.4 which affected individuals have a fixed, false belief We summarize the current literature regarding that they are infested with living organisms. The epidemiology, diagnosis, and management in this German term Dermatozoenwahn (parasitosis) was review. Evidence-based recommendations for phar- originally cited in 1938 by Karl Axel Ekbom to macologic management and side effect profiles of describe this disorder. The name Ekbom syndrome the available agents are discussed in the context of was later used to describe this disorder; however, this the authors’ experience. eponym is ambiguous because it can also be used to refer to restless leg syndrome.1 Morgellons disease is METHODS a condition in which a patient perceives fibers or The PubMed database was queried for relevant threads emerging from or attached to the skin.
    [Show full text]
  • Ekbom Syndrome: a Delusional Condition of “Bugs in the Skin”
    Curr Psychiatry Rep DOI 10.1007/s11920-011-0188-0 Ekbom Syndrome: A Delusional Condition of “Bugs in the Skin” Nancy C. Hinkle # Springer Science+Business Media, LLC (outside the USA) 2011 Abstract Entomologists estimate that more than 100,000 included dermatophobia, delusions of infestation, and Americans suffer from “invisible bug” infestations, a parasitophobic neurodermatitis [2••]. Despite initial publi- condition known clinically as Ekbom syndrome (ES), cations referring to the condition as acarophobia (fear of although the psychiatric literature dubs the condition “rare.” mites), ES is not a phobia, as the individual is not afraid of This illustrates the reluctance of ES patients to seek mental insects but rather convinced that they are infesting his or health care, as they are convinced that their problem is her body [3, 4]. This paper deals with primary ES, not the bugs. In addition to suffering from the delusion that bugs form secondary to underlying psychological or physiologic are attacking their bodies, ES patients also experience conditions such as drug reaction or polypharmacy [5–8]. visual and tactile hallucinations that they see and feel the While Morgellons (“the fiber disease”) is likely a compo- bugs. ES patients exhibit a consistent complex of attributes nent on the same delusional spectrum, because it does not and behaviors that can adversely affect their lives. have entomologic connotations, it is not included in this discussion of ES [9, 10]. Keywords Parasitization . Parasitosis . Dermatozoenwahn . Valuable reviews of ES include those by Ekbom [1](1938), Invisible bugs . Ekbom syndrome . Bird mites . Infestation . Lyell [11] (1983), Trabert [12] (1995), and Bak et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Delusion of Parasitosis: Case Report and Current Concept of Management
    Acta Dermatovenerol Croat 2011;19(2):110-116 CASE REPORT Delusion of Parasitosis: Case Report and Current Concept of Management Mirna Šitum1, Iva Dediol1, Marija Buljan1, Maja Vurnek Živković1, Danijel Buljan2 1Department of Dermatology and Venereology; 2Department of Psychiatry, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia Corresponding author: SUmmARY Delusions of parasitosis (DP) is a primary psychiatric dis- Professor Mirna Šitum, MD, PhD order, a type of monosymptomatic hypochondriac psychosis in which patients believe that ‘bugs’ or ‘parasites’ have infested their skin or that Department of Dermatology and Venereology they have even spread into their visceral organs. Patients with DP usu- Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center ally approach different medical specialists, mostly dermatologists and Vinogradska c. 29 primary care physicians because of symptoms presenting as crawling under their skin. Therefore, the exact prevalence of DP is unknown. It HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia is believed that it is a rare disorder but different studies indicate that [email protected] the prevalence is greater than presented. The etiology of this disorder is still unclear. Patients with DP come to a physician with a stereotypic history. Usually the patient has previously addressed many other dif- Received: September 2, 2010 ferent specialists and symptoms are usually present for several months Accepted: April 1, 2011 to years. The main cutaneous symptom is crawling, biting and pruritus due to ‘burrowing of parasites, insects or bugs’ under the skin. Patients with DP are rare but can be very challenging for making the correct diagnosis and for the treatment as well. It is essential to distinguish primary from secondary disorder since the approach to these patients is different.
    [Show full text]
  • Past Life Regression
    Past Life Regression Past life regression is a technique that uses hypnosis to recover the memories of past lives or incarnations. Past-life regression is typically undertaken either in pursuit of a spiritual experience, or in a psychotherapeutic setting. Most advocates loosely adhere to beliefs about reincarnation, though religious traditions that incorporate reincarnation generally do not include the idea of repressed memories of past lives. The technique used during past-life regression involves the subject answering a series of questions while hypnotized to reveal identity and events of their past lives. The use of hypnosis and suggestive questions can tend to help the subject to recall his past memories. The source of the memories is more likely that of combine experiences, knowledge, imagination and suggestion or guidance from the hypnotist or regression therapist. Once created, those memories are indistinguishable from memories based on events that occurred during the subject's life. Experiments with subjects undergoing past-life regression indicate that a belief in reincarnation and suggestions by the hypnotist are the two most important factors regarding the contents of memories reported. In the 2nd century BC, Sage Patanjali, in his Yoga Sutras, discussed the idea of the soul becoming burdened with an accumulation of impressions as part of the karma from previous lives. Patanjali called the process of past-life regression “prati- prasav”or "reverse birthing" and saw it as addressing current problems through memories of past lives. Past life regression can be found in Jainism. The seven truths of Jainism deal with the soul and its attachment to karma and Moksha.
    [Show full text]
  • A Case of an RLS Mimic Treated with an Antipsychotic
    Diso ep rde le rs S f & o T l h a e n r r a u p Hawa, J Sleep Disord Ther 2015, 4:3 o y Journal of Sleep Disorders & Therapy J DOI: 10.4172/2167-0277.1000198 ISSN: 2167-0277 Case Report Open Access A Case of an RLS Mimic Treated with an Antipsychotic Raed Hawa* University Health Network, Toronto Western Hospital, 399 Bathurst St, Main Pavilion 7th Floor, Rm#401, Toronto, Ontario M5T2S8, Canada *Corresponding author: Raed Hawa, University Health Network, Toronto Western Hospital, 399 Bathurst St, Main Pavilion 7th Floor, Rm#401, Toronto, Ontario M5T2S8, Canada, Tel: 416 603-5847; E-mail: [email protected] Received date: Mar 25, 2015, Accepted date: May 04, 2015, Published date: May 12, 2015 Copyright: © 2015 Hawa R. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Abstract This case reports on a restless leg syndrome mimic that has responded to antipsychotic medication. Keywords: Sleep medicine; Restless leg syndrome; Delusional buttocks when she sat down on the toilet seat. She definitely attributed parasitosis this incident to her symptoms as she was not able to sleep that night because of the “pinching sensation”. Since that time, she has become Introduction convinced that “something” has entered her body and resulted in the RLS symptoms. We report the case of a restless leg syndrome mimic that has responded to an antipsychotic medication. She was referred to an infectious disease specialist who confirmed the diagnosis as delusional parasitosis, based on her clinical presentation and lack of any evidence of a skin infestation.
    [Show full text]