Patient selection: claim of having Morgellons Disease
Exclusions: (1) organic brain syndrome, (2) delusions associated with substance withdrawal states
Screening features:
(1) The patient is an adult with symptoms for > 6 months.
(2) The patient is convinced of a chronic parasitic infestation.
(3) The patient complains of either:
(3a) abnormal dermal sensations and/or
(3b) fibers or filaments being extruded from the body
(4) chronic pruritis for >= 6 months
(5) >= 2 chronic, unhealed skin lesions
(6) The patient’s life has been significantly altered by the condition.
(7) The patient had a healthy period at some point in his or her life prior to the onset.
where:
• The skin lesions may be suspected as being excoriations.
• A past diagnosis of delusions of parasitosis or bipolar disease would not exclude the patient.
