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Sleep Automatism: Clinical Study in Forensic Nursing
Author(s) -
Hamer Beth A.,
Payne Anne
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
perspectives in psychiatric care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.538
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1744-6163
pISSN - 0031-5990
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-6163.1993.tb00405.x
Subject(s) - automatism (medicine) , plea , psychology , psychic , forensic psychiatry , licensure , medicine , nursing , psychiatry , law , alternative medicine , political science , neuroscience , pathology
The authors describe sleep automatism as it pertains to forensic nursing. A plea of sane automatism may result in an acquittal and, as a defense, creates a very interesting medical legal circumstance. A case study is presented to illustrate the necessity for nursing to know how to assess for this dissociative state, to understand the legal implications, and to identify nursing issues relevant to sleep automatism defenses. The clinical and personality characteristics on which evaluations should be based are also outlined.