Report of Unusual Self-Mutilation in a Paranoid Schizophrenic Patient

Self-mutilation is defined as intentional damaging of the body without intent to die. This behavior is observed among groups of psychiatric patients particularly schizophrenics. In these patients, self-mutilative behavior may have unusual manifestations related to delusion and hallucination. In this article, an unusual form of self-mutilation of a paranoid schizophrenic patient is reported. The subject stuck multiple needles into various parts of his body including head, face, neck, chest wall and genitalia. He also injected aubergine juice into his right popliteal fossa and ingested two medical thermometers. The relationship between self-mutilative behavior and delusions and hallucinations is discussed.