Biomaterial Database

AUTOMATISM. 1964

R J MCCALDON

Individuals can carry out complex activity while in a state of impaired consciousness, a condition termed "automatism". Consciousness must be considered from both an organic and a psychological aspect, because impairment of consciousness may occur in both ways. Automatism may be classified as normal (hypnosis), organic (temporal lobe epilepsy), psychogenic (dissociative fugue) or feigned. Often painstaking clinical investigation is necessary to clarify the diagnosis. There is legal precedent for assuming that all crimes must embody both consciousness and will. Jurists are loath to apply this principle without reservation, as this would necessitate acquittal and release of potentially dangerous individuals. However, with the sole exception of the defence of insanity, there is at present no legislation to prohibit release without further investigation of anyone acquitted of a crime on the grounds of "automatism".

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D006990	Hypnosis	A state of increased receptivity to suggestion and direction, initially induced by the influence of another person or oneself.	Autohypnosis,Clinical Hypnosis,Hypnoanalysis,Mesmerism,Self-Hypnosis,Hypnotherapy,Hypnotism,Hypnosis, Clinical,Hypnotherapies,Self Hypnosis
D007046	Hysteria	Historical term for a chronic, but fluctuating, disorder beginning in early life and characterized by recurrent and multiple somatic complaints not apparently due to physical illness. This diagnosis is not used in contemporary practice.	Hysterical Neuroses,Neuroses, Hysterical
D008306	Malingering	Simulation of symptoms of illness or injury with intent to deceive in order to obtain a goal, e.g., a claim of physical illness to avoid jury duty.
D010827	Physiology	The biological science concerned with the life-supporting properties, functions, and processes of living organisms or their parts.
D002965	Classification	The systematic arrangement of entities in any field into categories classes based on common characteristics such as properties, morphology, subject matter, etc.	Systematics,Taxonomy,Classifications,Taxonomies
D003243	Consciousness	Sense of awareness of self and of the environment.	Consciousnesses
D003291	Conversion Disorder	A disorder whose predominant feature is a loss or alteration in physical functioning that suggests a physical disorder but that is actually a direct expression of a psychological conflict or need.	Astasia-Abasia,Conversion Neurosis,Functional Movement Disorder,Functional Neurological Disorder,Hysteria, Conversion,Conversion Reaction,Astasia Abasia,Conversion Disorders,Conversion Hysteria,Conversion Neuroses,Disorder, Functional Movement,Disorder, Functional Neurological,Functional Movement Disorders,Functional Neurological Disorders,Movement Disorder, Functional,Movement Disorders, Functional,Neurological Disorder, Functional,Neurological Disorders, Functional,Neuroses, Conversion,Neurosis, Conversion
D003415	Crime	A violation of the criminal law, i.e., a breach of the conduct code specifically sanctioned by the state, which through its administrative agencies prosecutes offenders and imposes and administers punishments. The concept includes unacceptable actions whether prosecuted or going unpunished.	Kidnapping,Poaching,Crimes,Kidnappings
D003937	Diagnosis, Differential	Determination of which one of two or more diseases or conditions a patient is suffering from by systematically comparing and contrasting results of diagnostic measures.	Diagnoses, Differential,Differential Diagnoses,Differential Diagnosis
D004213	Dissociative Disorders	Sudden temporary alterations in the normally integrative functions of consciousness.	Dissociation,Fugue,Hysteria, Dissociative,Dissociative Reaction,Disorder, Dissociative,Disorders, Dissociative,Dissociative Disorder,Dissociative Hysteria,Dissociative Reactions,Hysterias, Dissociative,Reaction, Dissociative,Reactions, Dissociative