Male Genital Self-mutilation: Looked through the Prisms of the Sociocultural Insights and Repercussions

Abstract

Complete genital self-mutilation (GSM), mostly a non-suicidal behavior, is a rare occurrence among patients with psychotic and non-psychotic disorders. This case report is on a patient who, in the shadow of severe bizarre psychotic manifestations with overwhelming socio-cultural contents, completely self-mutilated his external genitals with a sharp blade. Emergency surgical and psychiatric management improved his condition over 4 weeks. In the light of this case, the psychodynamic, biological and socio-cultural meanings and etiologies of GSM are explained and discussed with relevant international literature on male genital self-mutilation.