Citation

Kernbach-Wighton G, Thomas RS, Saternus KS. Rom. J. Leg. Med. 1998; 6(1): 30-39.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, Romanian Legal Medicine Society)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Personality disorders of the borderline type are characterized by autoaggressive behaviour. These patients use self-mutilation to protect or to restore their personal integrity. They make use of self-inflicted injuries especially in situations characterized by conflicts and personal crisis. The patients are mostly younger women, frequently showing a similar background. The severity of self-inflicted injuries varies from fine and superficial lesions to deep and severe trauma, which sometimes mutilate. Non-overt self- injuries may appear as factitious disease. Patients of another group showed at the same time characteristics combined with overt and non-overt self- injuries. In this group there often can be found a mixture of reality and phantasy/imaginations. In some cases there exists a real certainty of an unknown perpetrator. Morphologic examination should be followed by medical care for the psychiatric patient.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; article; automutilation; Borderline structure; case report; Characteristics of wounds; Cry for help; differential diagnosis; factitious disease; female; forensic psychiatry; human; Incrimination of other persons; mental disease; Overt and non-overt lesions; personality disorder; psychiatric diagnosis; Self-wounding; suicide attempt; wound