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Psychiatric and Legal Aspects of Persistent Litigation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

M. W. D. Rowlands
M. W. D. Rowlands*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London EC1A 7BE
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Abstract

There is a paucity of literature in English about those people who persistently complain. In Germany and in Scandinavia, a diagnosis of querulent paranoia may be made, although this interesting and uncommon syndrome is rarely recognised in the UK. Five cases of litigiousness or persistent complaining are reported, to illustrate the typical psychopathology and the types of diagnosis that occur. Four of these people are barred from further litigation by the courts (vexatious litigants) and were contacted directly for the purpose of this study.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 153 , Issue 3 , September 1988 , pp. 317 - 323
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1988 

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