Citation

Mannarino VS, Pereira DC, Gurgel WS, Costa CB, Valença AM, Fontenelle LF, Mendlowicz MV. J. Forensic Sci. 2016; 62(4): 953-961.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Universidade Federal Fluminense (MSM-UFF), Rua Marquês do Paraná, 303 - 3° andar do Prédio Anexo, Niterói, RJ, Brazil.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, American Society for Testing and Materials, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/1556-4029.13359

PMID

27982450

Abstract

Self-embedding behavior (SEB) is the repeated insertion of sharp objects, such as needles or pins, into the soft tissues of abdomen, limbs, and other body parts. In this study, two cases of SEB were reported and the scientific worldwide literature reviewed. Thirty-two cases of SEB were identified through systematic searches in the main bibliographic databases. Mean age was 35 years (SD = 8.97). Just over two-thirds of the patients were female. Although the number of embedded objects could be as high as 200, major clinical and surgical complications were uncommon and mortality was null. Patients with SEB presented three major diagnoses: psychotic (25%), personality (21.9%), and factitious (28.1%) disorders. The practice of SEB largely went undetected as the patients themselves did not bring it to the attention of family members or physicians and usually denied they have engaged in SEB. A high level of suspicion is required to avoid a missed diagnosis.

© 2016 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Language: en