Volume 14, suplement 1
Case report
Parasitic paranoia
PRZEMYSŁAW PACAN1, JACEK SZEPIETOWSKI2
1. Katedra i Klinika Psychiatrii Akademii Medycznej we Wrocławiu
2. Katedry i Kliniki Dermatologii, Wenerologii i Alergologii Akademii Medycznej we Wrocławiu
Postępy Psychiatrii i Neurologii 2005; 14 (supl. 1/20): 118-106
Keywords: parasitic paranoia, induced psychosis, diagnostics
Abstract
Objective. Parasitic paranoia is a psychotic disorder with a single hypochondriac delusional belief. These patients experiencing tactile hallucinations are convinced about the presence of parasites under or in their skin.
Case. A case of parasitic paranoia in a 68-year-old woman and her 71-year-old husband is described.
Commentary. Difficulties in diagnosing parasitic paranoia as an organic hallucinosis or induced (shared) paranoid disorder are discussed.
Address for correspondence:
Dr Przemysław Pacan, Katedra i Klinika Psychiatrii Akademii Medycznej, ul. Pasteura 10, 50-367 Wrocław, e-mail:pacanp@psych.am.wroc.pl