When patients say bugs and doctors say no: inside a medical mystery
NCT ID NCT07849907
First seen Sep 30, 2026 · Last updated Oct 01, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
Some people feel certain they have a parasite or infestation, yet doctors examine them and find no cause. Vanderbilt University researchers want to understand what that experience is like. They will interview 25 adults aged 18 to 70 who are at least half certain they have an active infection despite a doctor saying otherwise. In a one to two hour Zoom session, participants answer questions, fill out questionnaires, and play computer games that measure thinking patterns. The goal is to describe this group clearly so providers can respond better.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If researchers map this experience clearly, it could shape how doctors respond to patients whose symptoms they cannot explain and point toward better support.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small interview study with 25 people, so it cannot prove what causes the mismatch or show that any treatment works. It only describes experiences.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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About 25 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Dec 2024
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2030
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
Adults with a persistent experience of infestation or parasite that physicians or other professionals report no evidence for.
- Ages
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18 to 70 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Men and women aged 18-70 years old * At least 50% certain that they have an active infection/infestation/parasite, despite being told by doctor that they do not * Ability to read and speak English * Access to a computer or phone for virtual visit * No self-reported history of schizophrenia-spectrum disorder Exclusion Criteria: * Active substance use disorder (excluding nicotine and caffeine) * History of severe head trauma * Current use of antipsychotics * Serious medical or neurological illness known to interfere with cognitive functioning * Diagnosis of a learning disability or cognitive disorder
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Vanderbilt University Medical Center
RECRUITINGNashville, Tennessee, 37212, United States