Gregory B. Leong

A comprehensive typology for the biopsychosociocultural evaluation of child-killing behavior

The homicide of children by their parents has been reported across numerous cultural settings around the world and in many historical periods. A comprehensive and systematic understanding of parental child killing can be optimally obtained through a biopsychosociocultural approach. In this article we present the case of a woman who committed neonaticide. We illustrate the cultural formulation of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) and recommend that this formulation has a central role in the evaluation of cultural factors of parents who kill their children.

Dangerous misidentification of people due to flashback phenomena in posttraumatic stress disorder

Misidentification of people may occur in a number of psychiatric disorders associated with delusional thinking. Misidentification of people may also occur in the context of visual flashback phenomena associated with post-traumatic stress disorder. People who misidentify someone during a flashback associated with previous war combat experience may perceive and conceptualize the misidentified object as an enemy who may be both feared and disliked. This might make the misidentified objects become the targets of violent attacks by the affected person. In this article we present five cases of flashback-induced misidentification of people who were subsequently attacked within the context of the flashback experience. The nature of the misidentification of persons due to flashback experiences is discussed. The association between the type of misidentification and aggression is also discussed.

VIOLENT BEHAVIORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ANTICHRIST DELUSION

Delusions involving the antichrist concept have been occasionally reported. Some cases of the antichrist delusion have been associated with violent behavior. In this article we describe the case of a man who suffered from a chronic antichrist delusion and who also displayed repeated and serious violent behaviors. We also discuss the role of the antichrist delusion as well as other psychotic symptoms in the genesis of violence in the present case.

The role of mania in the genesis of dangerous delusional misidentification

The delusional misidentification syndromes are characterized by a misidentification delusion of the self and/or others. Delusional misidentification syndromes frequently occur in psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, psychotic disorder due to general medical condition, or psychotic disorder not otherwise specified. On rare occasions these syndromes may be associated with manic states secondary to bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, or general medical conditions. The delusional misidentification syndromes may also be associated with verbal and physical aggression. In this article we present three cases of dangerous delusional misidentification associated with mania. We will discuss the role that mania may have in the genesis of dangerous delusional misidentification.

The antichrist delusion as a delusional misidentification syndrome of the self.

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Co-Existence of Misidentification, Pseudocyesis and Erotomanic Delusions

Misidentification syndromes are characterized by a delusion regarding the inauthenticity of the identity of the self and/or others (l ,2). For example, in the syndrome of reverse intermetamorphosis, the affected person believes that he/she undergoes radical alterations in both physical and psychological makeup (2). On occasion, misidentification syndromes co-occur with other unusual delusions (2,3). In this letter, we report a case of delusional misidentification ofthe selfco-occurring with pseudocyesis and erotomanicdelusions.