International Journal of Emergency Mental Health and Human Resilience
Open Access

Case Report

Delusion of Snake Infestation Following Sexual Intercourse: Report of Two Cases

Sidney Winford¹, Dante M. Durand^2*, Andrew Klise², Ricardo Cáceda¹

¹Psychiatric Research Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham St., Slot #554, Little Rock, AR, USA

²Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine 1695 NW 9th Avenue, Suite 1517-B, Miami, FL, USA

*Corresponding Author:

Dante M. Durand
E-mail: Ddurand@med.miami.edu

Delusional infestation, a condition wherein a person believes his or her body to be infested with living organisms, has been observed in patients with primary psychotic disorders, as well as those with psychotic episodes secondary to mood disorders. Here we describe two similar cases of delusional snake infestation following sexual intercourse in female patients, one with schizophrenia and the other with new diagnosis of bipolar disorder. During the course of hospitalization, both patients misinterpreted abdominal pain/abnormal sensation following sexual intercourse as snakes infesting various parts of the abdomen and genital tract. In both cases, symptoms rapidly resolved after antipsychotic and appropriate medical treatment

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