[Strangulation as scenic behavior. A case report of a pseudosuicide in the course of a NREM-parasomnia]. / Strangulation als szenische Handlung. Ein Fallbericht über einen Pseudosuizidversuch im Verlauf einer NREM-Parasomnie.

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.