Morgellons disease: A review of a mysterious psychodermatologic disorder
Introduction: Morgellons disease is a rare, unexplained skin disorder that whose specific etiology remains a mystery to both the Dermatologic and Psychiatric community as the specific etiology remains unknown. The condition is characterized by the physical presentation of painful sores with reported crawling sensations within the skin and the fixed belief of infection or parasitic infestation. The pathognomonic feature of this disease is the presence of filaments or fibers embedded in and emerging from these sores. (Source: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology)
Source: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology - August 2, 2018 Category: Dermatology Source Type: research
Morgellons Disease: Truth & Belief.
Morgellons Disease: Truth & Belief.
Ann Dermatol. 2018 Jun;30(3):361-362
Authors: Roncati L, Piscioli F
PMID: 29853755 [PubMed] (Source: Annals of Dermatology)
Source: Annals of Dermatology - June 3, 2018 Category: Dermatology Tags: Ann Dermatol Source Type: research
Morgellons Disease: a Manifestation of Psychiatric Disorder.
Authors: Yu DA, Ohn J, Kim KH
PMID: 29853756 [PubMed] (Source: Annals of Dermatology)
Source: Annals of Dermatology - June 3, 2018 Category: Dermatology Tags: Ann Dermatol Source Type: research
Morgellons disease treatment with quetiapine.
Authors: Carrillo de Albornoz Calahorro CM, López-Delgado D, Gutiérrez-Rojas L
PMID: 29706457 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Medicina Clinica)
Source: Medicina Clinica - May 2, 2018 Category: General Medicine Tags: Med Clin (Barc) Source Type: research
Morgellons Disease —Dredged Up From History and Customized
Morgellons disease is a controversial entity. Today, afflicted individuals identify themselves as having nonhealing skin lesions with excretion or emergence of fibers or solid material from the skin and a burning sensation or other disturbing cutaneous sensations, such as formication. Biologist Mary Leitao coined the termMorgellons disease in 2002, when she continued to find “fibers” in the skin of her persistently itchy son, who had previously been diagnosed as having scabies. She drew her inspiration from a description of a similar condition by physician Sir Thomas Browne in the 1600s. After significant news coverage...
Source: JAMA Dermatology - April 1, 2018 Category: Dermatology Source Type: research
History of Morgellons disease: from delusion to definition.
Authors: Middelveen MJ, Fesler MC, Stricker RB
Abstract
Morgellons disease (MD) is a skin condition characterized by the presence of multicolored filaments that lie under, are embedded in, or project from skin. Although the condition may have a longer history, disease matching the above description was first reported in the US in 2002. Since that time, the condition that we know as MD has become a polemic topic. Because individuals afflicted with the disease may have crawling or stinging sensations and sometimes believe they have an insect or parasite infestation, most medical practitioners consider MD a p...
Source: Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology - February 24, 2018 Category: Dermatology Tags: Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol Source Type: research
Error in Data in the Results Section
In the article titled “Management of Morgellons Disease With Low-Dose Trifluoperazine,” an error occurred in the last paragraph of the Results section concerning the number of patients who achieved at least partial responses and baseline function with median dosages of the study treatment. The sentence now reads, “ Among patients with median dosages of 2 mg/d, 10 (71%) achieved at least partial responses and 7 (50%) achieved baseline function…”. The article was corrected online. (Source: JAMA Dermatology)
Source: JAMA Dermatology - February 1, 2018 Category: Dermatology Source Type: research
Management of Morgellons Disease With Low-Dose Trifluoperazine
This medical record review examines the novel use of low-dose trifluoperazine, a high-potency typical antipsychotic, in a cohort of patients with Morgellons disease. (Source: JAMA Dermatology)
Source: JAMA Dermatology - January 10, 2018 Category: Dermatology Source Type: research
Review of epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of common primary psychiatric causes of cutaneous disease.
Authors: Krooks JA, Weatherall AG, Holland PJ
Abstract
Approximately half of all patients presenting to dermatologists exhibit signs and symptoms of psychiatric conditions that are either primary or secondary to cutaneous disease. Because patients typically resist psychiatric consult, dermatologists often are on the front line in evaluating and treating these patients. Accordingly, distinguishing the specific underlying or resulting psychiatric condition is essential for effective treatment. The etiology, epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and first-line treatment of specific primary psychiatr...
Source: Journal of Dermatological Treatment - October 21, 2017 Category: Dermatology Tags: J Dermatolog Treat Source Type: research
Formication, tactile hallucinations, delusional parasitosis, and Morgellons: Enough to make your skin crawl
(Source: Perspectives In Psychiatric Care)
Source: Perspectives In Psychiatric Care - September 27, 2017 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Jonathan S. Dowben, Peter C. Kowalski, Norman L. Keltner Tags: COLUMN Source Type: research
Morgellons Disease; experiences of an integrated multidisciplinary dermatology team to achieve positive outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS: Morgellons disease is a condition which is widely discussed on the internet and patients often self-diagnose. The course of the disease can be chronic and debilitating. For a positive outcome, it is important that a strong physican-patient relationship is cultivated. As demonstrated in this case series, managing patients holistically in an integrated multidisciplinary dermatology setting helps achieve positive outcomes.
PMID: 28665169 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Journal of Dermatological Treatment)
Source: Journal of Dermatological Treatment - July 2, 2017 Category: Dermatology Tags: J Dermatolog Treat Source Type: research
The label of “Morgellons disease”: Experiences of an integrated multidisciplinary dermatology team to achieve positive outcomes
Background: In recent years there has been a reported increase in affliction of the skin with small fibers or other particles. The condition has been referred to as Morgellons disease. Patients present with stinging, burning or crawling sensations of the skin, with perceived extrusion of inanimate material alongside fatigue and other systemic symptoms. Sufferers often experience significant morbidity and reduction in quality of life. Many dermatologists believe Morgellons to be a variant of delusional infestation (DI) and question the notion of its existence as a separate diagnostic entity. (Source: Journal of the American...
Source: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology - May 31, 2017 Category: Dermatology Source Type: research
Morgellons Disease.
Authors: Ohn J, Park SY, Moon J, Choe YS, Kim KH
Abstract
Morgellons disease is a rare disease with unknown etiology. Herein, we report the first case of Morgellons disease in Korea. A 30-year-old woman presented with a 2-month history of pruritic erythematous patches and erosions on the arms, hands, and chin. She insisted that she had fiber-like materials under her skin, which she had observed through a magnifying device. We performed skin biopsy, and observed a fiber extruding from the dermal side of the specimen. Histopathological examination showed only mild lymphocytic infiltration, and failed to reve...
Source: Annals of Dermatology - April 11, 2017 Category: Dermatology Tags: Ann Dermatol Source Type: research
History of Morgellons disease: the same name for different psychodermatologic diseases?
Summary“Morgellons disease” has been a controversial topic in the history of psychodermatology. The most consensual scientific opinion is that it is a primary psychiatric disorder, particularly, a delusional disorder, although others were also pointed out. Some authors have suggested that it may corres pond to a common dermatosis with secondary psychopathology. The Morgellons Research Foundation has advocated that it is “an emerging infectious” entity. This paper intends to critically review the main ideas and controversies, since its first description. (Source: Wiener Medizinische Wochenschrift)
Source: Wiener Medizinische Wochenschrift - March 14, 2017 Category: Journals (General) Source Type: research
Morgellons Disease Presenting As an Eyelid Lesion
Morgellons disease is characterized by complaints of uncomfortable skin sensations and fibers emanating from nonhealing skin lesions. Morgellons disease is well-known in the dermatology and psychiatry literature, where it is typically considered a subtype of delusional parasitosis, but it has not yet been described in the ophthalmology literature. A patient with self-reported Morgellons disease is presented, who was referred for evaluation of left lower eyelid ectropion. She reported that her skin was infested with fibers that were “trying to get down into the eyelid.” On examination, she had ectropion of the left lowe...
Source: Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - July 1, 2016 Category: Opthalmology Tags: Case Reports Source Type: research
