Citation

Baruffaldi Preis F, Cavallini M, Vigano M, Mazzacane F, Botti E, Zanobio A, Donati L. Rivista Italiana di Chirurgia Plastica 1993; 25(2): 169-172.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Fire has always been an ambivalent symbol, meaning both purity and evil. In the course of the centuries it has often been used as a destroying and purifying weapon; in this past century its use as a means of suicide has progressively increased. In this paper we wanted to relate our experience in treating patients who attempted suicide with fire, not only to stress the considerable increase of such admissions in our Burns Unit in the past few years, but also to study the reasons leading to it and its underlying mental disorders. We have thus noted that the attempted suicide with fire is mainly related to acute phases of delirium, very similar to hallucinations. This is proved by the fact that there is no memory of the attempt and by the lack of communication from the patients. We believe that the plastic surgeon, who is in daily contact with these patients for long periods of time, must possess a better knowledge of the underlying mental disorder, in order to attain a better relationship with the patient. We also wanted to make a psychodynamic study, to see what similar characteristics and motives lead to the choice of fire to inflict self-injury, trying to give a personal interpretation.

Language: it

Keywords

adult; human; suicide; burn; female; male; suicidal behavior; article; clinical article; psychodynamics; statistics