A Case of Auto-Erotic Asphyxia in a Long-Term Psychiatric Setting

Abstract

The syndrome of auto-erotic asphyxia (AEA) involves the deliberate induction of cerebral hypoxia to produce or enhance sexual excitement. This sexual practice is normally only discovered when death results from the act because these individuals rarely seek professional advice. The practice of AEA in the living case presented here was initially misinterpreted as parasuicidal behaviour. This type of sexual behaviour should always be considered a differential for parasuicidal activity involving asphyxia. Aetiology, treatment and the need for health professionals to be aware of this syndrome are discussed.

Hypoxia-Associated Changes in Striatal Tonic Dopamine Release: Real-Time in vivo Measurements With a Novel Voltammetry Technique

“…The phenomenon of massive dopamine release in hypoxia followed by resumption of tonic levels drew our attention to a little discussed clinical and forensic problem, namely autoerotic asphyxiation (AEA) behaviors (Quinn and Twomey, 1998;Bunzel et al, 2019). Increase in striatal and nucleus accumbens dopamine transmission has been shown during sexual activity (Pfaus et al, 1990(Pfaus et al, , 1995.…”

Hypoxyphilia

“…Unfortunately, published reports have typically involved single cases or very small samples and provide tantalizingly meager details of the behavior involved though theoretical speculations and treatment suggestions often predominate (Friedrich & Gerber, 1994;Money, Wainwright, & Hingsburger, 1991;Quinn & Tuomey, 1998;Thompson & Beail, 2002;Wesselius & Bally, 1983). Nevertheless, among these reports, evidence of the common associated paraphilias is usually found.…”

Addiction to self-strangulation: a case-report

“…Autoerotic asphyxia is mentioned in the DSM 5 in the section describing paraphilic disorders, as a speci ier for the diagnosis of sexual masochism disorder, "if the individual engages in the practice of achieving sexual arousal related to restriction of breathing" [1]. Speci ically, it is the practice inducing hypoxia in order to increase sexual excitement [2] and is associated with a high risk of death [3][4][5] especially when practiced alone [6,7]. There are dramatically consequences of these games practicing in the early adolescence as a rite of passage [8].…”