Table 1 Initial Patient Screening Criteria
From: Morgellons disease, illuminating an undefined illness: a case series
1. Patient convinced of chronic parasite infestation. |
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2. Primary patient illness focus must be either on dermal sensations or on "never-before-seen" material thought to be extruded from his or her body, even if this was not the most debilitating symptom or sign. The material must have been described as "fibers", "fiber-like", or "filaments". |
3. Chronic pruritis (itching) must have been present for at least six months. |
4. The patient must have at least two chronic, unhealed skin lesions recorded by a clinician, regardless of whether excoriation was suspected. |
5. Prior diagnosis of Delusions of Parasitosis or bipolar illness would not exclude the patient as a candidate. |
6. Patients experiencing delusional states common in withdrawal from drugs such as opiates and patients in organic brain states, were excluded. |
7. The illness must have had a life-altering effect on the patient. |
8. The patient must be an adult and had experiencing symptoms for more than six months. |
9. A healthy pre-morbid period in the patient's life was acceptable. |