Self-mutilation induced by psychotropic substances: A systematic review

Abstract Self-mutilation (SM) not only occurs among patients with schizophrenia, personality disorders or transsexuality but also as a phenomenon induced by psychotropic substances (PS). We intended to find characteristics of patients at risk to perform SM induced by PS (SMIPS), frequent PS within t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychiatry research 2012-12, Vol.200 (2), p.977-983
Main Authors: Gahr, Maximilian, Plener, Paul Lukas, Kölle, Markus Alexander, Freudenmann, Roland Wolfgang, Schönfeldt-Lecuona, Carlos
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Alcohol
Amphetamines
Amphetamines - adverse effects
Auto-mutilation
Biological and medical sciences
Ethanol - adverse effects
Female
Hallucinogens
Hallucinogens - adverse effects
Humans
Intoxication
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Neuropharmacology
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Psychiatry
Psychoanaleptics: cns stimulant, antidepressant agent, nootropic agent, mood stabilizer
Psychoanaleptics: cns stimulant, antidepressant agent, nootropic agent, mood stabilizer..., (alzheimer disease)
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopharmacology
Self Mutilation - chemically induced
Self-harm
Sex Factors
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Summary:Abstract Self-mutilation (SM) not only occurs among patients with schizophrenia, personality disorders or transsexuality but also as a phenomenon induced by psychotropic substances (PS). We intended to find characteristics of patients at risk to perform SM induced by PS (SMIPS), frequent PS within this phenomenon and typical presentations of SMIPS. A systematic review of the literature (including Medline, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Scopus) was conducted. On October 2011 we identified 26 cases (23 publications) of SM related to PS. Majority of patients (85%) was male, mean age was 30 years (median 41 years). Seventy-three percent of patients developed SM subsequent to the use of one PS, 27% presented SM after the use of more than one PS. Alcohol (25%), hallucinogens (25%) and amphetamines (22%) were found most frequently among the reported substances. Major impairment was present in 80%. Our findings suggest male sex, young age, a previous history of abuse of PS and the current use of alcohol, hallucinogens or amphetamines to favour SMIPS.
ISSN:0165-1781
1872-7123
DOI:10.1016/j.psychres.2012.06.028