Developing Medical and Entomological Networks to Assist Individuals With Suspected Delusional Infestations (DI)

Goal

Create local medical and entomological networks by educating the healthcare community about delusional infestation and treatment options, and developing a protocol for all professionals affected by this condition to work cooperatively to bring those individuals with DI closer to remission.

Audience

Healthcare providers (dermatology, diagnostic laboratory, family and primary care, infectious disease, and mental health professionals), and Extension and pest management professionals.

Schedule

Time	Session Name
7:00 AM	Registration – Atrium on 4th Floor of UT Conference Center
8:00 AM	Welcome, The Southern Region Delusional Infestation Working Group (SRDIWG) and “What Led Us to this Juncture?” Karen Vail, Ph.D., Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
8:20 AM	Delusional Infestation, Nancy Hinkle, Ph.D., Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
8:40 AM	The DI Individual, Julia Sheffield, M.D., Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
9:00 AM	Concerns for Infestation (CI): Dermatologic Evaluation of Patients with Unwanted, Uncomfortable, and Unexplained Sensations, Scott A. Norton, M.D., M.P.H., M.Sc. Adjunct Professor, George Washington University, Washington, D. C. (virtual)
9:25 AM	An Immune-system Approach to Characterizing the Likelihood of Arthropod Involvement. John Carlson, M.D., Ochsner Health Systems, New Orleans, LA
9:45 AM	Break
10:00 AM	The Role of the Clinical Parasitology Laboratory in Evaluating Samples from Patients with Concern for Infestations, Mark Fox, M.S. Parasitology, M.S. Ecology, Tulane University, current address Atlanta, GA
10:30 AM	Brief Descriptions of Some Common Medically Significant Arthropods Related to Delusional Infestation and Those Imagined, Gale E. Ridge, Ph.D., Department of Entomology, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT
11:00 AM	Practical Management of Delusional Infestation (DI): American Perspective, John Koo, M.D., Department of Dermatology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA (virtual)
11:30 AM	The European Perspective on DI, Psychodermatology Clinics and National Guidelines, Peter Lepping, Wrexham Maelor Hospital, Wrexham, Wales, UK; Centre for Mental Health and Society, Bangor University, Wales, UK; Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, Mysuru, India (virtual)
12:00 – 1:00 PM	Catered lunch and Q&A with all speakers
1:00 – 4:00 PM	Afternoon Group Sessions – Creating the Network Moderators: – Leticia Flores (UT Psychiatric Clinic) – Bryan West (UT Medical Center Psychiatrist) – Ronnie Hamrick (UT Medical Center dermatologist) 1. Given that a diagnosis of DI within 6 months of onset leads to quicker recoveries, how can East Tennessee pest management and Extension professionals collaborate with the medical community to assist individuals suspected of having DI? 2. How can medical specialties (dermatology, primary care, mental health and diagnostic laboratory personnel) assist each other in helping individuals suspected of having DI? 3. Create a list of professionals prepared to work with DI. 4. Develop a flow chart of steps starting with pest management and Extension professionals, and including all health fields.

Conference Reading Materials

Please read these publications before attending:

• Alia Ahmed et al. 2022. British Association of Dermatologists guidelines for the management of adults with delusional infestation. British Journal of Dermatology. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.21668
• Ridge G, et al, 2024. The Physician’s Guide to Delusional Infestation. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-47032-5
• Squire S,. et al. 2024 A combined tropical medicine and psychiatry approach to patients with possible delusional infestation. The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. https://doi.org/10.1093/trstmh/trae054
• Tang PK, Lepping P, Lepping SG, et al. 2024. Efficacy of Antipsychotics in Delusional Infestation. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.20081

Registration

Funded by the Southern IPM Center (Project S25-063) as part of USDA NIFA CPPM RCP (Agreement No. 2022-70006-38002).