[Strangulation as scenic behavior. A case report of a pseudosuicide in the course of a NREM-parasomnia]

Neuropsychiatr. 2019 Sep;33(3):165-169. doi: 10.1007/s40211-018-0280-3. Epub 2018 Jul 10.
[Article in German]

Abstract

It is generally accepted, that sleepwalkers show complex behaviors leading to non-intended consequences. It is not unusual that these persons are thereby injured. However, sporadically a bizarre endangering of themselves or others is reported also, which ranges from homicide of the life partner to accidental (pseudo-)suicide.In this article, we report on a 28year-old man who unexpectedly attempted to hang himself by a whip at night. We discuss the reasons, why this bizarre act should actually be taken as a scenic behavior in the course of a NREM-parasomnia, and the difficulty to proof this claim.

Keywords: Parasomnia; Polysomnography; Pseudosuicide; Somnambulism.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Accidents / psychology*
  • Adult
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Polysomnography
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sleep Stages / physiology*
  • Somnambulism / psychology*
  • Suicide, Attempted / psychology*