Hostname: page-component-54dcc4c588-hp6zs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-10-13T04:27:49.308Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Delusional parasitosis secondary to vascular pathology in an oncological patient: case study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 August 2025

M. Garza
Affiliation:
Psicooncología, Medicina de Enlace y Cuidados Paliativos
A. Alcorta*
Affiliation:
Psicooncología, Medicina de Enlace y Cuidados Paliativos
C. Martinez
Affiliation:
Psicooncología, Medicina de Enlace y Cuidados Paliativos
A. Cantú
Affiliation:
Psicooncología, Medicina de Enlace y Cuidados Paliativos
S. Reyes
Affiliation:
Psychiatry, Hospital Universitario Dr José Eleuterio González, Monterrey, Mexico
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.
Introduction

Delusional parasitosis is a psychotic disorder where individuals firmly believe they are infested with parasites despite no medical evidence. It can be primary or secondary, the latter being a symptom of other medical conditions like neurological diseases. Effective management requires collaboration between psychiatry and other specialties.

Objectives

The evaluation of each patient with an interdisciplinary team increases adherence to treatment in patients with cancer and psychiatric illness.

Methods

Clinical history, complementary studies, and review of the literature on the case of a 66-year-old woman subjected to multiple dermatological treatments due to a sensation of body infestation. History of type 2 diabetes and diabetic neuropathy since 2021. In 2022, she was diagnosed with stage IIIA luminal B breast cancer and treated with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. She is currently on adjuvant treatment with Anastrozole. The oncologist referred her due to the presence of psychotic symptoms. The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy—General (FACT-G), and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) were applied.

Results

The patient presents with a psychotic disorder secondary to vascular pathology, manifested by delusions of infestation and sudden-onset hypodermic tactile hallucinations. Test results show a GHQ-28 score of 10/84, FACT score of 24/108, and PANSS score of 49 points. Although denying affective symptoms, anxiety, or cognitive impairment, neurological findings indicate decreased brain parenchyma, suggesting small vessel disease. Treatment includes Risperidone 1 mg once daily, along with therapeutic interventions such as psychoeducation and continued multidisciplinary monitoring by neurology for comprehensive disease management.

Conclusions

Evaluating psychotic symptoms requires assessing organic and non-organic factors. Neuroimaging aids diagnosing delusional parasitosis, improving treatment through interdisciplinary collaboration.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

Information

Type
Abstract
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of European Psychiatric Association
Submit a response

Comments

No Comments have been published for this article.