Vampires! Do they exist? A case of clinical vampirism

Abstract

Vampirism related to psychiatric disorders has been described under the term, “clinical vampirism”. But it is not incorporated as a diagnostic category the ICD or DSM classification systems. We present a case of a 20-year old single, unemployed male who was referred from a drug rehabilitation center, with poor anger control, impulsive behavior and the urge to drink blood, against a background of multiple substance dependence and a IQ of below average. The patient was diagnosed to have mental and behavioural disorders due to multiple substance use, currently in remission, mild mental retardation and dissocial personality disorder. According to the classic description of clinical vampirism, he was having vampirism, without death being involved. He was treated with both pharmacological and nonpharmacological strategies.