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The Berserker/Blind Rage Syndrome as a Potentially New Diagnostic Category for the DSM-III

1987; SAGE Publishing; Volume: 60; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2466/pr0.1987.60.1.131

1558-691X

Armando Simón,

Personality Disorders and Psychopathology

It is proposed that a new type of disorder be incorporated in the DSM-III under the category of Dissociative Disorders. The disorder, the Berkserker/Blind Rage Syndrome is characterized by (a) violent overreaction to physical, verbal, or visual insult, (b) amnesia during the actual period of violence, (c) abnormally great strength, (d) specifically target-oriented violence. Some case studies are presented for illustration and a parallel is made with the Viking Berserkers of the Middle Ages.