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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Diagnosed As Paranoid Schizophrenic, Feels Worms Under Skin. What Can We Do For This Symptom ?

My brother is 50. He has been diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic several years ago. He doesn't have money and can't afford medication. Off and on he has insisted that he has parasites or worms crawling under his skin. He will scratch, and create sores and swear the bugs did it. When he asks me to look, I don't see anything. He says he can extract tiny worms out of his lips or other areas of his body. He bathes daily and sometimes several times with a variety of products like dog flea shampoo, bleach, vinegar, and sometimes insecticide. I am very worried.

Do you think that his belief in the parasites are a symptom is his paranoia? What can we do?

I want to know if his
Mon, 29 Jul 2013
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Psychiatrist 's  Response
Quite often people with Schizophrenia do present with such symptoms that you are referring to

The medicinal treatment of Schizophrenia with antipsychotics is not at all costly. He should improve with atypical antipsychotics. The monthly cost of such successful treatment would be as low as INR 100, which is less than the cost of "shampoo, bleach, vinegar, and sometimes insecticide etc" that he uses unnecessarily. It is a misconception that treatment is costly

I sincerely suggest to seek a psychiatrist for benefit, rather than getting worried.
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Diagnosed As Paranoid Schizophrenic, Feels Worms Under Skin. What Can We Do For This Symptom ?

Quite often people with Schizophrenia do present with such symptoms that you are referring to The medicinal treatment of Schizophrenia with antipsychotics is not at all costly. He should improve with atypical antipsychotics. The monthly cost of such successful treatment would be as low as INR 100, which is less than the cost of shampoo, bleach, vinegar, and sometimes insecticide etc that he uses unnecessarily. It is a misconception that treatment is costly I sincerely suggest to seek a psychiatrist for benefit, rather than getting worried.