The Psychiatric Syndrome of Infestation

The history of the condition is traced from 1892 until the present day and the various views concerning the syndrome are examined. Eight patients exhibiting the syndrome are described, and the likely diagnoses discussed. It seems likely that delusions of infestation, whether based on haptic hallucinations or not, may arise in the course of a functional psychosis, an organic psychosyndrome or in the absence of demonstrable psychosis. In respect of these latter cases the question of delusions, or delusion-like ideas and the problem of paranoia are discussed.