Autoamputation of Genitalia in Bipolar Patient

Abstract

According to literature, genital self‐mutilation (GSM) is more commonly associated with psychosis as compared with self‐mutilation as a whole. There have been many case reports of GSM in psychotic disorders. We describe herein a case of a Caucasian, employed, and married male suffering from bipolar disorder type II with history of self‐mutilating behavior, who amputated his penis during symptom‐free phase of his illness. Several features are reflected as risky elements for genital self‐mutilation, for example, homosexual and transsexual tendencies, abandonment of the male genitals, lack of competent male for identification during childhood, feeling of guilt for sexual offences, and self‐injuries in anamnesis. This report will highlight various factors responsible for self‐mutilation in nonpsychotic and nondelusional person.