Parasomnia pseudo-suicide.
Complex behaviors arising from the sleep period may result in violent or injurious consequences, even death. Those resulting in death may be erroneously deemed suicides. A series of case examples and review of the pertinent literature are provided to increase awareness of the possibility that some apparent "suicides" are the unfortunate, but unintentional, consequence of sleep-related complex behaviors and therefore are without premeditation, conscious awareness, or personal responsibility. The correct cause-of-death determination in such cases may have profound social, religious, and insurance implications for surviving friends and family members.
Mahowald
Mark W
MW
Department of Neurology, MN Regional Sleep Disorders Center, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Schenck
Carlos H
CH
Goldner
Mari
M
Bachelder
Vance
V
Cramer-Bornemann
Michel
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004325:Dreams / Q000523:psychology; D005898:Glass; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020447:Parasomnias / Q000150:complications*; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000150:complications*; D013009:Somnambulism / Q000150:complications*; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology