》Delusional parasitosis (DP) is a rare psychiatric (mental) disorder. A person with this condition strongly believes that they're infected with a parasite. However, this isn't the case — they don't have a parasitic infection of any kind.
》A person with this condition can't control or stop these thoughts or beliefs. They're not choosing to believe they have a parasitic infection.
》There are three types of delusional parasitosis:
Primary delusional parasitosis. This is when a person has one delusional belief. It's a monosymptomatic, or one symptom, illness.
Secondary delusional parasitosis. This is when a person also has other mental health conditions, like depression, dementia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or schizophrenia.
Organic delusional parasitosis. This can happen to someone with other conditions or illnesses, like hypothyroidism, diabetes, heart disease, vitamin B-12 deficiency, cocaine addiction, and menopause
》A person with delusional parasitosis may often see a doctor or dermatologist (skin doctor) for treatment, insisting that they have a parasitic infection inside their body or on their skin.
The only sign of delusional parasitosis in some may people may be their conviction that they have a parasite inside them. They may also believe that their furniture, home, or surroundings are also infested with this parasite.
》Some people with this disorder may also have symptoms like:
feelings of itchiness or burning
feeling of numbness
complaining that they have a crawling or prickling feeling under the skin
scratching at the skin
picking at the skin
skin lesions or ulcers caused by scratching
using chemicals to scrub the skin
self-mutilation, in serious cases
using dangerous home remedies, like harmful pesticides, on themselves
》Treatment for delusional parasitosis includes treating any underlying conditions. If there's a triggering illness, treating that illness can help ease or stop the delusional parasitosis.
A doctor or psychiatrist may prescribe antipsychotic medications. A person with delusional parasitosis may not wish to take these medications because they believe they have a parasitic infection rather than a mental health condition.
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Psychology Facts
RandomSecond book of cool psychology Facts I've learned from my psychology courses/on professional psychology websites. Hope you all enjoy!! *I TAKE NO CLAIMS IN THE WRITING OR STUDY OF POSTED TOPICS. I'm simply just sharing/informing by posting multiple...
