From the Research
Morgellons disease should be treated as a psychiatric condition, with a multidisciplinary approach including antipsychotic medications, dermatological treatment, and cognitive behavioral therapy, as this approach has been shown to be effective in reducing symptoms and improving quality of life. The medical community generally considers Morgellons to be a form of delusional parasitosis, a psychiatric condition where individuals have a fixed, false belief that they are infested with parasites or foreign materials 1. Treatment typically involves a compassionate approach that acknowledges the patient's distress while guiding them toward appropriate mental health support.
Some key points to consider when treating Morgellons disease include:
- The use of antipsychotic medications, such as risperidone or olanzapine, which have been shown to be effective in reducing symptoms 2, 3
- The importance of a multidisciplinary approach, including dermatological treatment for any actual skin conditions, and cognitive behavioral therapy to address underlying anxiety or obsessive thoughts 1
- The need for a compassionate approach that acknowledges the patient's distress and guides them toward appropriate mental health support 4
- The fact that patients may present with actual skin samples containing fibers, but these are typically environmental contaminants or textile fibers rather than evidence of parasitic infection or other organic disease 5, 3
Overall, the most recent and highest quality study, a narrative review published in 2024, supports the use of a multidisciplinary approach, including antipsychotic medications, dermatological treatment, and cognitive behavioral therapy, to treat Morgellons disease 1.