A 34 year old man is admitted to the psychiatric temporary observation unit complaining of depression and suicidal ideation following a cocaine binge. During his stay, he stas feeling as if insects are crawling under his skin. This is most typical of which of the following phenomena?
High-Yield Explanation
Formication is a form of haptic hallucinations, associated with the sensation of touch. It is commonly seen in delirium tremens, amphetamine psychosis, and cocaine intoxication. Depersonalization is a term that describes the feeling of being different, strange, or unreal. The person feels a loss of identity. This phenomenon is seen in dissociative disorders. Dyskinesia is a term describing any movement disorder. Illusion is an erroneous perception, or a false response to sensory stimulus. It is commonly seen in toxic states as well as in schizophrenia and severe anxiety disorders. Ref: Nurcombe B., Ebe M.H. (2008). Chapter 4. The Psychiatric Interview. In M.H. Ebe, P.T. Loosen, B. Nurcombe, J.F. Leckman (Eds), CURRENT Diagnosis & Treatment: Psychiatry, 2e.