Post by LymeEnigma on Jun 1, 2008 18:19:33 GMT -8
Psychiatric Diseases Presenting as Infectious Diseases
Abstract: Rebecca Wurtz From the Department of Medicine, Evanston Hospital, Evanston, and
the Department of Medicine, Northwestern University School of
Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
Although many psychiatric diseases have somatic manifestations, some focus on fears or delusions
of infection. When a patient with a psychiatric basis for an apparent infection presents to an
infectious disease physician, the physician may find the problem confusing, amusing, and ultimately
frustrating until the psychiatric basis for disease is recognized. Some of these psychiatric disorders
can be treated and controlled with medication and psychotherapy, although patients may resist
psychiatric referral. This article reviews examples of psychiatric disorders in patients who present
to the infectious disease physician, including factitious infection, malingering, obsessive compulsive
disorder, phobias, veneroneuroses, somatization disorders, and delusional infection. The role that
physicians play in amplifying these disorders is reviewed. Strategies for referral to psychiatric
services are also discussed. Patients with a psychiatric disease are seen in infectious disease practices
more commonly than physicians realize.
Full article: www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/pdf/10.1086/513936
_______________________________________________________
LE note: I'm not implying that anyone here is suffering from non-infectious psychiatric illness ... but I'm sure it does exist here and there within Lymeland, nonetheless....
Abstract: Rebecca Wurtz From the Department of Medicine, Evanston Hospital, Evanston, and
the Department of Medicine, Northwestern University School of
Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
Although many psychiatric diseases have somatic manifestations, some focus on fears or delusions
of infection. When a patient with a psychiatric basis for an apparent infection presents to an
infectious disease physician, the physician may find the problem confusing, amusing, and ultimately
frustrating until the psychiatric basis for disease is recognized. Some of these psychiatric disorders
can be treated and controlled with medication and psychotherapy, although patients may resist
psychiatric referral. This article reviews examples of psychiatric disorders in patients who present
to the infectious disease physician, including factitious infection, malingering, obsessive compulsive
disorder, phobias, veneroneuroses, somatization disorders, and delusional infection. The role that
physicians play in amplifying these disorders is reviewed. Strategies for referral to psychiatric
services are also discussed. Patients with a psychiatric disease are seen in infectious disease practices
more commonly than physicians realize.
Full article: www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/pdf/10.1086/513936
_______________________________________________________
LE note: I'm not implying that anyone here is suffering from non-infectious psychiatric illness ... but I'm sure it does exist here and there within Lymeland, nonetheless....