Varieties of Pathological Self-Mutilation

Autor: Armando R. Favazza, Richard J. Rosenthal
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 1990
Předmět:
Zdroj: Behavioural Neurology, Vol 3, Iss 2, Pp 77-85 (1990)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 0953-4180
1875-8584
DOI: 10.3233/BEN-1990-3202
Popis: 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.
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