Ekbom Syndrome Management in Elderly Patients: Challenges in Risperidone Titration and Treatment Adherence
Abstract
Ekbom Syndrome, also known as Delusional Parasitosis (DP), is considered a rare psychiatric condition. Based on diagnostic criteria, it is characterized by the strong belief of being infested with various parasites, as well as the presence of perceptual disturbances, usually tactile and/or visual hallucinations. The syndrome can manifest idiopathically or in connection with other medical conditions and substance use. Diagnosis is challenging, as patients tend to pursue dermatological care initially. This case report describes an 81-year-old female diagnosed with Ekbom Syndrome, presenting with severe anxiety, insomnia, and persistent delusions of infestation. Initial treatment with low-dose Risperidone (2 mg/day) was ineffective, requiring a dose escalation to 4 mg/day. However, the patient's nonadherence to follow-up limited the assessment of long-term outcomes. This case highlights key clinical challenges in elderly patients, particularly dose titration, treatment response, and adherence issues. Comparative analysis with prior case reports suggests that higher doses of Risperidone (3-6 mg/day) may be required for symptom remission, but long-term outcomes remain uncertain. Additionally, nonadherence remains a major barrier, underscoring the need for structured monitoring and caregiver involvement. These findings offer insights into antipsychotic strategies for Ekbom Syndrome, highlighting individualized pharmacotherapy, long-term follow-up, and adherence support in elderly…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a case report, done in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Artificial Intelligence in Medicine: Cross-Sectional Study Among Medical Students on Application, Education, and Ethical Aspects
- Information quality of videos related to esophageal cancer on tiktok, kwai, and bilibili: a cross-sectional study
- The quality and reliability of short videos about hypertension on TikTok: a cross-sectional study
- Quality and reliability evaluation of pancreatic cancer-related video content on social short video platforms: a cross-sectional study
- Quality and reliability of pediatric pneumonia related short videos on mainstream platforms: cross-sectional study
- Association between metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR) and hypertension: a cross-sectional study based on NHANES 2007–2018
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.