Varieties of Pathological Self-mutilation

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Favazza, Armando R. | Rosenthal, Richard J.

Affiliations: Department of Psychiatry, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 54201, USA | Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90029, USA

Abstract: Pathological self-mutilation appears as a non-specific symptom as well as a specific syndrome. Since psychotic persons may commit horrifying acts, such as enucleation of an eye or amputation of a body part, identification of high risk patients is crucial. Stereotypical self-mutilation, such as head banging and biting off of fingertips, is associated with mental retardation and with the syndromes of Lesch-Nyhan, deLange, and Tourette. This type of self-mutilation is the focus of biological research or endorphins and on dopamine receptors. Skin cutting and burning, the most common type of self-mutilation, is often associated with personality disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and multiple personality disorder. When cutting and burning become established as responses to disturbing psychological symptoms on environmental events, a specific Axis I impulse disorder known as Repetitive Self Mutilation may be diagnosed. Patients with this newly identified syndrome may alternate their direct acts of self-mutilation with eating disorders and episodic alcoholism.

DOI: 10.3233/BEN-1990-3202

Journal: Behavioural Neurology, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 77-85, 1990