Citation

Kernbach-Wighton G. Rechtsmedizin 2004; 14(4): 277-295.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s00194-004-0272-4

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Self-inflicted injuries are well known in forensic medicine. They may be divided into two main groups: "overt" and "non-overt" injuries. The overt group especially includes borderline personality disorders with typical patterns as well as psychoses, epilepsies, and cerebro-organic alterations. The non-overt group consists among others of factitious disease and simulation with widespread patterns of symptoms. Injuries for financial reasons have special forensic relevance (insurance fraud). Comparable are persons who want to avoid duties (national service) or fake criminal offences. An intermediate group forms a connection between overt and non-overt injuries. Despite self-infliction of the injuries, a mixture of reality and phantasy is created concerning the existence of a perpetrator. The injury patterns are usually uniform and monotonous so that the diagnosis is not difficult. Nevertheless, problems may arise from special constellations and rare injury mechanisms. This paper explains the different causal, phenomenological, and legal aspects. Criteria for the examination, differentiation, and diagnostics are presented.

Language: de

Keywords

crime; human; classification; suicide; psychosis; forensic medicine; review; epilepsy; fantasy; mental disease; symptomatology; automutilation; Personality disorders; legal aspect; offender; borderline state; phenomenology; clinical examination; organic brain syndrome; insurance; Munchausen syndrome; factitious disease; Characteristics of injuries; disease simulation; forgery; Lesch Nyhan syndrome; malingering; non overt injury; overt injury; Overt/non-overt lesions; Procedure of examination; Self-inflicted injuries; Smith Magenis syndrome