@article{ref1,
title="Morgellons disease: the spread of a mass psychogenic illness via the internet and its implications in hand surgery",
journal="Hand (NY)",
year="2021",
author="Egeland, Brent M. and Nunziato, Carl A. and Henry, Steven L. and Gurman, Andrew",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="Somatic manifestations of mental illness sometimes occur in patients presenting to hand specialists. These conversion disorders can also occur in groups, a phenomenon  known as &quot;mass psychogenic illness.&quot; The increasing penetrance of the Internet and  social media in modern society has greatly facilitated the interaction of patients  with others with similar disorders. One example relevant to hand surgery is  &quot;Morgellons disease,&quot; a disorder popularized in 2002 and characterized by a firm  belief in foreign material extruding from the skin, leading to nonhealing,  self-inflicted ulcerations and excoriations. A series of 4 patients collected  through an informal survey of hand surgeons regarding experience with Morgellons  disease is reviewed and discussed. All patients in the series presented with a chief  complaint of foreign material extruding from the hand. In 1 case, the complaint was  made by a young patient's mother. In none of the patients were foreign bodies  identified, although 2 patients demonstrated significant ulcerations and scars from  self-excoriation. Three patients had a somatic condition affecting the hand or upper  extremity, 1 directly related to self-excoriation and 2 unrelated. Treatments,  workups, and ultimate outcomes varied among patients. Patients presenting with  Morgellons disease often undergo multiple unnecessary tests and are at risk of  inappropriate procedures. It is therefore important that providers have a  compassionate understanding of the involved psychology. Herein, we offer an approach  to the recognition of and treatment strategies for these patients.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1558-9447",
doi="10.1177/1558944720976648",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1558944720976648"
}