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.
References
1.
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual III. Washington, DCAPA, 1980.
2.
ByockJ. L.Feud in the Icelandic saga. Berkeley, CA: Univer. of California Press, 1982.
3.
Delgado-EscuetaA.MattsonR.KingL.GoldensohnE.SpiegelH.MadsenJ.CrandallP.DreifussF.PorterR.The nature of aggression during epileptic seizures. New England Journal of Medicine, 1981, 305, 711–716.
HightG. A.The saga of Gretting the Strong. London: J. M. Dent & Sons, 1929.
6.
KendrickT. D.A history of the Vikings. New York: Barnes & Noble, 1929.
7.
KligmanD.GoldbergD.Temporal lobe epilepsy and aggression. Journal of Nervous & Mental Disorders, 1975, 160, 324–341.
8.
MagnussonM.Vikings!New York: Dutton, 1980.
9.
PalssonH.EdwardsP.Göngu-Hrolfs saga. Berkeley, CA: Univer. of California Press, 1982.
10.
PontiusA. A.Specific stimulus-evoked violent action in Psychotic Trigger Reaction: a seizure-like imbalance between frontal lobe and limbic systems?Perceptual and Motor Skills, 1984, 59, 299–333.
11.
RosenbaumM.The role of the term schizophrenia in the decline of diagnosis of multiple personality. Archives of General Psychiatry, 1980, 37, 1383–1385.
12.
SchacterD.Amnesia and crime. American Psychologist, 1986, 41, 286–295.
13.
SimpsonJ.Everyday life if. the Viking age. London: Barnes & Noble, 1967.
