تعريف
Self-mutilation or self-injury is any form of self-harm inflicted on your body without the intent to commit suicide. Self-mutilation may be performed to release emotional pain, anger, or anxiety; to rebel against authority; to flirt with risk-taking; or to feel in control. In some cases, the behavior is outside your emotional control and related to a neurological or metabolic disorder.
The behavior is not considered socially appropriate. It is also not part of a religious custom or a form of art.
أسباب
Self-mutilation is a severe impulse control disorder that is often associated with other psychiatric disorders, such as:
- Borderline personality disorder
- اكتئاب
- Substance abuse, such as alcoholism or drug abuse
- Eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia
- Psychosis
- Antisocial personality disorders
- اضطراب ما بعد الصدمة
It can also be associated with neurologic or metabolic disorders such as:
- Tourette syndrome —a neurological disorder
- Autism —a disorder that results in social, behavioral, and language problems
- Lesch-Nyhan syndrome —a genetic disorder
عوامل الخطر
Factor that increase your chance of developing this condition include:
- Childhood sexual, physical, or emotional abuse
- Violence or other abusive relationships in a child’s home
- اضطراب ما بعد الصدمة
- Being in prison
- الجنس: أنثى
- Age: adolescence
- الإعاقة الذهنية
- توحد
- Certain metabolic disorders
الأعراض
The symptoms of self-mutilation vary. The most common symptoms include:
- Cutting of skin with a sharp object
- Skin carving or burning
- Self-punching or scratching
- Needle sticking
- Head banging
- Eye pressing
- Finger, lips, or arm biting
- Pulling out one’s hair
- Picking at one’s skin
Rarely, in very severe cases, self-mutilation can include:
- Broken bones
- Amputation
- Castration
- Suicide
التشخيص
Self-mutilation can be difficult to diagnose. People who self-mutilate often feel guilty and ashamed about their behavior. They may try to hide it. Physical harm caused by self-multilation may be the first sign noticed during an exam. To be diagnosed, symptoms should meet the following criteria:
- Excess concern with physically harming oneself
- Inability to resist harming oneself, resulting in tissue damage
- Increased tension before and a sense of relief after self-injury
- Having no suicidal intent in the self-mutilation
To make an accurate diagnosis, the psychologist or psychiatrist will assess other conditions, like personality or mood disorders, and whether there is suicidal intent.
العلاج
Treatment usually includes medical and psychological treatment, as well as medications.
العلاج الطبي
A doctor will assess whether care needs to be provided right away to prevent further injury due to ingestion, wound, or other bodily harm.
Psychosocial Assessment
This assessment may be administered to assess a person’s mental capacity, level of distress, and presence of مرض عقلي.
Psychologic Treatment
Psychologic treatment may be done either one-to-one or in a group setting. It is usually aimed at finding and treating the underlying emotional difficulty, trauma, or disorder. It may also include cognitive behavioral therapy.
الوقاية
The best prevention is to get help as soon as possible for depression, trauma, emotional problems, or other disorders that may lead to self-mutilation.