Author:

• Juliana Guilheri - Guilheri, Juliana - Université Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense, EA 4430 – CLIPSYD/ Laboratoire IPSé - <juguilheri@gmail.com>

Co-author(s):

• Anne Andronikof - Andronikof, Anne - Université Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense, EA 4430 – CLIPSYD/ Laboratoire IPSé - <andronik@u-paris10.fr>
• Latife Yazigi - Yazigi, Latife - Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo Escola Paulista de Medicina, Psiquiatria e Psicologia Médica - <lyazigi@aclnet.com.br>

Thematic Area:

Saúde da Criança e do Adolescente

Abstract:

The ‘choking game’ and other asphyxial behaviors have become a social phenomenon among children and adolescents. It can lead to dependence like drugs and has resulted in the deaths of children and young people worldwide, including Brazil. These apneal and asphyxial practices are ‘played’ to experience fleeting euphoric sensations like visual and auditory hallucinations and bodily synaesthesiahypoxia. These ‘games’ are risk behaviors that have become popular in Brazil, through the numerous videos posted on YouTube. Brazilian digital media reports asphyxial behaviors cases, however, there are no scientific studies about this problem. Our goal in this paper is to discuss these asphyxial behaviors based on the international literature, which focuses on psychophysiological aspects, behavioral and psychopathological aspects and international epidemiological data. In Brazil, there is an important need for more studies and intervention by government and philanthropic institutions in order to raise awareness among children of the potential danger of asphyxial behaviors. It is necessary to ban the disclosure of videos that encourage such games and to train qualified professionals in the dissemination of prevention work together with teachers and parents.

Keywords:

choking gameasphyxial behaviorsrisk behaviorsinternetchildren and adolescents

Content:

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