Clinical vampirism, also known as Renfield syndrome, is a psychological disorder associated with a blood obsession, a serious but rare disease, on which there are few scientific studies.
People with this syndrome may experience various symptoms including an uncontrollable need to ingest blood, the desire to get hurt and cut off to suck their own blood, always accompanied by great satisfaction or pleasure during or shortly after blood ingestion.
Some of the main symptoms and needs that may indicate the presence of this disorder include:
Not all symptoms must necessarily be present and clinical vampirism is often associated with other disturbing behaviors, which can include psychosis, hallucinations, delusions, cannibalism, rape, and homicide.
Diagnosis of this disorder may be made by the psychiatrist or psychologist, who identifies the presence of an obsession with blood and human blood consumption.
In addition, the presence of psychosis, hallucinations and illusions, related to blood or vampires, fictional characters of immortal terror and who survive through blood ingestion is common.
However, this disorder can often be confused with other psychological diseases, such as schizophrenia, for example, because there is little scientific research on clinical vampirism.
Treatment of clinical vampirism usually includes hospitalization, so the patient can be monitored 24 hours a day, as it can often pose a danger to himself and others.
In addition, medications are also needed to control associated psychosis, hallucinations or delusions, as well as daily psychotherapy sessions.
While clinical vampirism is a true term used to describe an obsessive relationship with blood, Renfield syndrome was a term coined by a scientist to describe compulsive blood gain, which is not scientifically recognized. This name was inspired by Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula. , where Renfield is a supporting character in the novel, with psychological problems maintaining a telepathic connection and correspondence with the famous fictional character Count Dracula.