Case Report: Ekbom Syndrome Presented with Shared Psychotic Disorder

Abstract

Background: Ekbom syndrome, which is also known as delusional parasitosis, is an infrequent psychotic disorder that is marked by a very intense and strongly unshakeable false belief that there is a parasitic infestation, usually occurring on or beneath the skin, even though there is no medical proof to explain it. This phenomenon can also present with a shared psychotic disorder which eventually is very rare, accounting for only 5-15%  of psychiatric cases worldwide.  

Case Presentation: Mrs. Z, a 56-year-old woman, consulted the emergency unit of Universitas Sumatera Utara General Hospital along with her daughter, complaining of serious itchiness and skin problem due to crawling bugs and worms beneath her skin. Mrs. Z appeared furious, agitated and hyperventilating. Her daughter also admitted that she has the same skin condition. They have tried to appoint a consultation to several doctors but did not get any “appropriate” explanation. 1 ml of Haloperidol (5mg/ml) was initially administered via IM injection to calm Mrs. Z, and oxygen was given to help ease her breathing. We then advised Mrs.  Z and her daughter to visit our psychiatry outpatient clinic the day afteron the next day. Through a careful interview, we found that Mrs.  Z experienced Ekbom syndrome or delusional parasitosis that is also shared with her daughter. Both were given risperidone with an initial dose of 1 mg/day and sertraline 50mg/day.  

Conclusion: We found a rare case of delusional parasitosis presented with shared psychotic disorder among a mother and a daughter. Initiation of psychiatric therapy is quite challenging, as patients often refuse due to stigmatization and their firm belief that instead of psychiatric illness, they actually have a parasitic infection. A multidisciplinary approach and strong patient-therapist relationship are a necessity in treating this type of patient.