Psychopathological approach of unsafe games among teenagers: A case report

Abstract

Introduction

Voluntary asphyxiation by practicing unsafe games such as choking, hanging, strangulation or other means of inducing hypoxia/anoxia is not uncommun among adolescents and can lead to unintended death but it stills not very well-known so underestimated by parents and underdiagnosed by health professionals.

Objectives

Study of clinical, psychological and psychopathological features in adolescent practicing unsafe games through a case report and a literature review.

Methods

We will present the case of a 14-year-old boy followed up in the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department of Mongi Slim Hospital (La Marsa, Tunisia) for behavioral disorders and recurrent syncope. This case report will be supported by a literature review.

Case report

S.B., 14-year-old boy, unique child of two divorced parents, with precarious family socio-economic conditions, no apparent medical problems and no known history of drug or alcohol abuse, suicidal ideation or suicide attempts, consulted first time in the department for behavioral disorders. The diagnostic of dysthymia was made. Seven months later, he was hospitalized in the medical intensive care unit for postictal coma. All medical investigations were normal. In the following, S.B. revealed that he used to practice voluntary asphyxiation by compressing the two carotids using his fingers until loss of consciousness. The diagnosis of paraphilia (DSM-5) was established.

Conclusions

Early recognition of such cases and awareness of psychological and psychopathological motivations might prevent serious complications and lethal outcome for these “unsafe-young-players”.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.