A medico-legal perspective on postictal violence: A case study and systematic review of postictal delirium.

Epilepsy Res

Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States.

Published: September 2024

Detailed descriptions of violent postictal episodes are rare. We provide evidence from an index case and from a systematic review of violent postictal episodes that demonstrates the encephalopathic features of some violent postictal behaviors. We discuss how these cases may fit in the legal framework of culpability. The data support the view that some episodes of violent postictal behavior are more accurately classified as a neurological delirium or encephalopathy rather than as a postictal psychosis. Current medical terminology may present unwarranted (and presumably unintended) barriers to exculpation for patients who exhibit post-ictal violence during an episode of delirium during which the patient was unaware of his or her violent conduct.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2024.107398DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

violent postictal
16
systematic review
8
postictal episodes
8
postictal
7
violent
5
medico-legal perspective
4
perspective postictal
4
postictal violence
4
violence case
4
case study
4

Similar Publications

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!