Making psychiatric sense of sand: a case of delusional disorder in Saudi Arabia.

Somatic delusional disorder is an uncommon psychiatric disorder that has been typically reported in elderly women. This article reviews the literature and describes a Saudi female patient who presented with novel somatic delusion of turabosis--the conviction that she was continually being covered by sand from sandstorms. Although the systematized delusional convictions remained unshakable, her anxiety and mood symptoms responded to a regimen of tricyclic antidepressants and her delusional beliefs resolved within eight weeks of treatment with risperidone. Sociocultural themes and therapeutic approaches to somatic delusional disorder are discussed.