YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE THIS- Psychiatry Online

[posey]

Morgellons Disease ? Psychiatric News


Psychiatric News June 1, 2007
Volume 42 Number 11 Page 24
© American Psychiatric Association
Letters to the Editor
Morgellons Disease
Robert C. Bransfield, M.D.
- Author Affiliations

Red Bank, N.J.
I am pleased to see that in the December 15, 2006, issue, Psychiatric News drew attention to Morgellons disease and that the excellent article gave sound advice on communicating with delusional parasitosis patients. However, I would like to add comments about the distinction between Morgellons disease and delusional parasitosis.

I've evaluated and treated Morgellons patients, spoken with researchers and other clinicians who work with these patients, read the limited literature on the subject, and reviewed a database of 3,000 Morgellons patients. The Morgellons patients I have seen had surprisingly similar symptoms, with an abrupt onset, often following a toxic exposure. Before the onset of their illness, these patients' mental status appeared to be quite representative of the general population, and some (including physicians) were high-functioning professionals. The condition appears more common in nurses, teachers, and in family members in the same household, which suggests a contagious component.

After the onset of the illness, these patients report surprisingly similar symptoms. They have a combination of bizarre dermatological sy mptoms, cognit ive impairments, mood disturbances, and sometimes paranoia and suicide attempts in later stages of the illness.

Their symptoms are not compatible with schizophrenia, bipolar illness, substance abuse, or other recognized causes of delusions. When patients complain of fibers protruding from their skin, examination with a low-power digital microscope can visualize and photograph the presence or absence of these fibers. In addition, many Morgellons patients test positive for Lyme disease. The mental symptoms seen in Morgellons are similar to those of other chronic general medical illnesses with psychiatric manifestations, since the mental symptoms fluctuate in a pattern similar to that of the general medical symptoms; and this suggests that the mental symptoms are probably associated with immune and/or toxic effects upon the brain.

When these patients are treated with modest courses of antibiotics, their dermatological and psychiatric symptoms often show significant improvement. Without a thorough assessment, Morgellons patients are commonly given a diagnosis of delusional parasitosis, resulting in a delay in proper treatment. Whatever Morgellons is, it is something very different and unique and should be considered as a condition needing further study and possibly listed in the next edition of the DSM.

In summary, Morgellons disease and delusional parasitosis are two distinct clinical entities. Morgellons does not appear to be an imaginary or delusional illness and merits the research effort that we see with any other emerging and serious illness.

American Psychiatric Association


posey

[Baraka Obam]

You mean if I say this is a disease of fibers, I would be ok and not crazy at all????

[lostintime]

Looking for any letters you all have found on the subject of Morgellons in regards to Psychiatric care. Pros or con
I need to provide other letters written by psychiatrist and medical doctors documenting the psychological aspect of this.

What I don't need are letters by journalist, reporters and amateurs.

Thanks

Morgellons

[janedoe]

why does everybody get all hung up on the word crazy? if you know theyre gonna say that, why aint you thought up a good comeback for it yet? see, you guys need to look at things in more than one way..
why not look the doctor that just called you crazy dead in the eye, then real quiet like, whisper, ' ok, morgellons,crazy, DONT CARE.. make it stop..
seriously, start telling the doctors the morgies are telling you to hurt people, then he'll find a cure.. real quick.
whine and snivvel about it or have fun with it.. pick one

[lostintime]

I am not sure where your coming from Jane? I think there is a big difference between having psychological or cognitive problems and being labeled mentally incompetent.
A person starts to loose rights being labeled mentally incompetent or "Crazy"

The right to manage your own estate or affairs
The right to drive
The right work
The right to own a firearm
The right to enter a legal contract
The right to be free

I have suffered neurological and cognitively way more then anything else.

One has to be very careful going down the road of psychology in regards to morgellons.

[hurtin1]

The government wants DIRECT access to ALL medical records,,for each individual,,so the "authorities" can data base you and treat you"accordingly".....yep,,,thats a-comin...
Another good reason to stay away from cops,,AND doctors!!

[belle9]

I get hung up on the words crazy and delusional, Jane, because I'm not!! When you say you want them to make it stop, they will prescribe you a pernicious drug like Risperdol that masks the symptoms (or may do nothing) and can cause further damage. I have a low white blood count and this drug can further drop it. Please treat yourself how you see fit, but I wish you wouldn't criticize those who do not want that label. We simply want people to see this as the real illness that it is and treat us like human beings.

Originally Posted by janedoe

why does everybody get all hung up on the word crazy? if you know theyre gonna say that, why aint you thought up a good comeback for it yet? see, you guys need to look at things in more than one way..
why not look the doctor that just called you crazy dead in the eye, then real quiet like, whisper, ' ok, morgellons,crazy, DONT CARE.. make it stop..
seriously, start telling the doctors the morgies are telling you to hurt people, then he'll find a cure.. real quick.
whine and snivvel about it or have fun with it.. pick one

[posey]

I am sure there are people who are psychotic who may have this. This most certainly does not mean that "M" is a psychotic disease. It would only mean that the particular patient would have 2 different diagnosis; both disease would be in and of itself.

I am sure there are patients with cancer, MS, ALS, and whatever diseases there are who also may have a seperate diagnosis of psychosis, depression, etc.. It just so happens that more than likely 99.9% of "M" patients do not have psychosis. I would love to see a survey on pre-depression done on other patients with aforementioned illnesses

It has been this way for years: uswed to be if a Dr. did not have an answer the first thing they asked was if you smoked. If you said yes you were sure to get no help. Then depression hit big; no diagnosis for what ails you and it was because you were depressed. Now if you feel anything on you you are DOP; without any examinations or testing these 3 "rescue agents" always seem to pull an MD through whatever they do not know.

But beware; GET YOUR MEDICAL RECORDS!! You do not know what they have put in there and it could just be something to make thenselves look pretty darn good and the patient as someone looking for attention, a drug seeker, DOP, and the list goes on and on. Your wording and how you speak to a Dr. can make all the difference in the world as to what is in a medical note. They have to dictate one for every appointment or insutance will not pay for the visit.

These records are yours to have by law if you so desire. If they are for insurance purposes, more often than not you won't be charged for them. But if you are charged a nomilnl fee it is well worth it to know aht the Dr. has REALLY said about you not matter how nice s/he may have semed in the appointment.

When I had to file for disability I was shocked to see what some ZDrs. had dictated. I wrote a lettter of correction, went to the bank to have it notorized and sent it to clinic to be placed in my chart by the Dr. note. If you want to see if it was actually placed inn your medical chart you can make appointment to go in, sit on a room and view your chart. Of course you have to do this in the room with the ROI people because you can't remove anything from your chart.

ROI- Release of Information

By viewing your medical chart you can also see any letters which may have been written to other Drs.

I recommend this to everyone.

[janedoe]

theres a huge difference between being on meds and needing a conservator, just because you see a shrink and on meds, that doesnt take ant rights away from you, you only get rights taken when someone goes to court and declares you incompetent. and you can own a gun so long as you never been in a hospitol.. i know, trust me.. we are gun collectors, my dad and i. they did background check on me when i was securityguard and when i joined the elks lodge.. and i passed.
so belle, see a different doc. maybe you do need meds, somtimes they help to combat menopause, more than just being nuts, but if two or three doc say you need meds, then take them .do you want to get better or not?

[posey]

I agree totally and those medical notes dictated by a Dr. can get one in a mess of being misunderstood; whether it be a medical issue or even a criminal issue when one may be perfectly innocent.

It is the pits but those records can make a mess of very much in one's life; depending even upon how they are worded. The wording can be totally taken out of context; insurance companies like disability per se.

You have to keep up your own guard. GET THEM ALL. One time called I asked my Dr. and asked him to refer me to physical therapy. The note said:

"Posey" called again today. I reffered her to physical therapy". No mention that I was the one who requested it. He wanted this note to look as if instead of pain mad. he refferred me to PT. How nice hey? And, NEVER NEVER submit to taking any psychological testing such as the MMPI.

I think the world may be a tad bit different if everyone seen a counselor. I did when I had to stop working because this dpressed me. I loved being with people and now I had to stop working. For 2 years I saw her 2wice a week and locved it. She would even tell me her own issues in life. Many counselors have their own issues and this is what btrought them to their career as counselors, etc.