Categories of self-injurious behaviour are briefly reviewed. Serious and bizarre self injurious behaviour is usually psychotic in origin. The literature concerning self-inflicted enucleation of the eyes is reviewed and two additional patients, both with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, are reported. The lack of pain and the lack of concern shown by the patients and their management are discussed.
References
1.
LeibenluftEGardnerDLCowdryRW.The inner experience of the borderline self mutilator. Journal of Personality Disorders1987; 1:317–324.
2.
RogersTPullenI.Self-inflicted eye injuries. British Journal of Psychiatry1987; 151:691–693.
3.
StoneI.Dear Theo: The autobiography of Vincent Van Gogh. Signet, 1969:404,415,430,446.
4.
KhanJABuescherLIdeCHPettigroveB.Medical management of self-enucleation. Archives of Ophthalmology1985; 109:386–389.
5.
KrausHRYeeRDFoosRY.Auto-enucleation. Survey of Ophthalmology1985; 29:179–187.
6.
AnanthJKaplanHSLiK-M.Self-inflicted enucleation of an eye: Two case reports. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry1984; 29:145–146.
7.
SouliosCFirthST.Self-inflicted eye injury. Clinical and psychodynamic aspects. Psychiatric Journal of the University of Ottawa1986; 11: 238–242.
8.
RosenDHHoffmanAM.Focal suicide. Self-enucleation by two young psychotic individuals. American Journal of Psychiatry1972; 128: 123–126.
9.
MoskovitzRAByrdT.Rescuing the angel within. PCP related self-enucleation. Psychosomatics1983; 24: 402–403.
10.
WurflerP.Selbstblendung eines cocainsüchtigen betrüger. Nervenartz1956; 27:325–326.
11.
TapperCMBlandRCDanylukL.Self-inflicted eye injuries and self-inflicted blindness. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease1979; 167:311–314.
12.
TalbotJLinnL.Reaction of schizophrenics to life threatening disease. Psychiatric Quarterly1978; 50:218–227.
13.
GrafHMallinR.The syndrome of the wrist cutter. American Journal of Psychiatry1967; 124:36–42.
14.
PaoPN.The syndrome of delicate self cutting. British Journal of Medical Psychology1969; 42:195–206.
15.
FreudS.Anxiety and instinctual life. In: New introductory lectures on psychoanalysis. London: Hogarth Press, 1947:141.
