100 years of delusional parasitosis - A challenge for interdisciplinarity

Delusions of parasitosis are, phenotypically, an uniform psychiatric syndrome which is, however, observed in different mental disorders. In about 50% it can be classified as pure delusional disorder, 20-25% have an organic etiology. In about 5-25% it is seen as par? of schizophrenic symptomatology, whereas it can be found only seldom in the context of affective psychosis. Induced forms have a relative frequency between 5% and 15%. Delusions of parasitosis are also seen in chronic cocaine- or amphetamine-intoxication. Annual prevalence is ca. 80 cases/1 million inhabitants, annual incidence is ca. 20 new cases/1 million inhabitants. Delusions of parasitosis are commonly found in later life, females are more frequently affected than males. Therapy and prognosis depend on the underlying mental disorder.