Vampirism: Clinical Vampirism--Renfield's Syndrome (Ce ARTICLE: 1 CE CREDIT: A CASE Study) (Cover Story) (Case Study‪)‬

Abstract This article on clinical vampirism also known as Renfield's syndrome presents an overview of this rare syndrome and gives perspective into clinical practice with a "vampire" client through a case study. Additionally, other people who drink animal blood and receive injections of their own blood for nutrition and health reasons are discussed. Implications and suggestions for further peer-reviewed articles and research studies are given. Clinical vampirism or Renfield's syndrome is a mental illness characterized by an obsession with drinking one's own blood (auto vampirism) and the blood of other humans and animals (zoophagia). Clinical vampirism is not recognized in the DSM-IV-TR (2000) as a separate disorder, and peer-reviewed literature and research are scarce, although clinical vampirism has been mentioned in psychological and fictional literature for many years (von Krafft-Ebing, 1886; Vanden Bergh & Kelly, 1964; Prins, 1985; Noll, 1992; Gubb, Segal, Khota, & Dicks 2006).