Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science in Medicine In the Health Science Faculty University of Witwatersrand Johannesburg February 2014 / The act of self-mutilation has sparked much interest over the years. Various research has been conducted into this phenomena with researchers asking questions about why some individuals self-mutilate, what psychological functions self-mutilation may serve, who is most affected by self-mutilation and what are the links between self-mutilation and other forms of psychopathology. This research study considered the prevalence of self-mutilation seen in the cases of suicide at the Johannesburg Forensic Pathology Service Medico-Legal Mortuary. This study was a prospective and descriptive study which considered the available literature on the phenomenon of self-mutilation and its link with suicide. This study also observed the external patterns of injury associated with the method of suicide as well as self-mutilation. It was found that self-mutilation is prevalent in 8 % of the suicide population in Johannesburg and that it was more common in men. The most common chosen method of suicide seen in this sample was that of toxicity of ingested substance. The second most common method of suicide in the self-mutilation was that of hanging. Future recommendations and future areas of research were also identified suggesting that there is still much information which needs to be gathered on the phenomenon of self-mutilation, especially within the South African context.

Thesis--PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis--PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Kent State University, 2009. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Mar. 12, 2010). Advisor: Janis Crowther. Keywords: Non-suicidal self-injury; self-mutilation; deliberate self-harm; emotion regulation. Includes bibliographical references (p. 81-92).

Thesis (M.A.)--Western Kentucky University, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 82-86).

Thesis PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references.

This qualitative study explored the subjective experiences of young people and staff around self-cutting behaviour in residential settings. Ten young people and twelve staff members from three settings were interviewed. Three main areas were explored: 1) explanatory frameworks used to make sense of cutting; 2) the impact of cutting on others; 3) staff responses to cutting and how these were experienced by young people. An interpretative phenomenological approach was used to analyse the data. A wide range of accounts was articulated and there was a high level of consistency in the data. Intrapersonal explanations for cutting predominated, but the cutting had a powerful and generally negative effect on others. The role of carer was identified as central and parallel processes occurred for young people and staff when they were in the carer role. The findings were discussed and developed into a model which attempted to bring together the intrapersonal and interpersonal cycles that appeared to be operating. Wider social issues were also considered. It appeared that the phenomenon of self-cutting occurred in the context of overwheh-ning experiences which were unbearable for all concerned. There was significant difficulty in integrating the confusing and conflicting experiences associated with cutting and this led to polarised and rigid views. It was concluded that a multi-dimensional approach which includes intrapersonal, interpersonal and group processes as well as wider social issues is needed to increase understanding of this challenging area. The findings were related to the literature and research and clinical implications suggested.

Thesis (M.A.)--Kent State University, 2009. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Jan 12, 2010). Advisor: Janis Crowther. Keywords: worry, rumination, experiential avoidance, non-suicidal self-injury, functional model. Includes bibliographical references (p. 44-55).

Thesis--PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references.

Self-mutilation is a serious clinical problem. In humans self-mutilation is a characteristic of the Lesch-Nyhan syndrome and the de Lange syndrome. Several common drugs have been reported to produce self-biting in animals. The purpose of this project is to begin to determine whether drug-induced self-biting in animals shares behavioral or biochemical characteristics with self-biting in the Lesch-Nyhan syndrome. Availability of such an animal model would greatly facilitate development of rational therapies and elucidation of neurochemical mechanisms. The Lesch-Nyhan syndrome is the result of a genetic defect in purine metabolism. Purines may function as neural transmitters or purines may be released along with classical neurotransmitters, or purines may modulate neural transmission. This research is based on the assumption that the self-mutilation which accompanies the Lesch-Nyhan syndrome is the result of (a) decreased availability of purinergic neuroregulators, (b) increased amounts of hypoxanthine in the central nervous system, (c) a combination of the above. The behavioral characteristics of three types of drug-induced self-biting (caffeine, clonidine, and pemoline) were examined. Then various purines were administered in an attempt to modify drug-induced self-biting. Pemoline was administered orally to rats in doses of 140 and 220 mg/kg. Self-biting of the medial digits and dorsomedial aspect of the foreleg was commonly observed and appeared to result from intense grooming of these areas. The severity of self-biting was dose-related and self-biting was somewhat environmentally modifiable. The animals' behavior was characterized by poor response to sensorimotor stimuli and by highly repetitive behaviors. Caffeine was administered orally to rats for 14 days (185 mg/kg/day). There was a low incidence (less than 7%) of mild self-biting of the dorsomedial aspect of the forefoot. In all other respects the animals' behavior was normal. Clondine (40 mg/kg) was administered to mice and produced self-biting of the medial digits of the foreleg in 30% of mice placed in a glass beaker. Mice placed in a wire enclosure with biting objects never exhibited self-biting. The animals' behavior was characterized by generalized biting. No evidence was obtained that purines are directly involved in the etiology of drug-induced self-biting. Treatment of neonatal rats with a purinergic enzyme inhibitor did not render them more susceptible to pemoline-induced self-biting as adults. Adenosine had no effect on clonidine-induced self-biting. Contrary to expectations, hypoxanthine, a purine found in very high quantities in the central nervous system of Lesch-Nyhan patients, reduced the severity of pemoline-induced self-biting in rats. Behavior was also normalized to some degree by hypoxanthine. This phenomenon may be due to the benzodiazepinergic actions of hypoxanthine. These three types of drug-induced self-biting were discussed in relation to self-biting exhibited by animals under other circumstances and in relation to self-biting exhibited by humans. In general, self-biting in animals and humans appears to be similar. In particular, the pemoline-treated rat appears to be a good model for the de Lange syndrome and the pemoline- and hypoxanthine-treated rat appears to be a good model for the Lesch-Nyhan syndrome. A hypothesis was advanced that several distinctly different types of self-biting exist, one of which can be described (for both animals and humans) as exaggerated displacement grooming. The latter is associated with stimulants and/or with stress and becomes more severe as behavior becomes more stereotyped.