Citation

Newham BJ, Khanna R. Int. J. Psychiatry Med. 2019; 54(1): 74-79.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0091217418791451

PMID

30058462

Abstract

Background Self-phlebotomy has been described as a form of non-suicidal self-injury. However, a relationship between non-suicidal self-injury and therapeutic phlebotomy for hemochromatosis has not previously been described. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of a 52-year-old man in whom the frequency of his therapeutic phlebotomy and non-suicidal self-injury were inversely linked, leading to adverse outcomes when his phlebotomy was suspended.

CONCLUSIONS This is the first report describing the relationship between non-suicidal self-injury and therapeutic phlebotomy. This case highlights the need for risk assessment and monitoring of self-harm in patients who are undergoing therapeutic phlebotomy in order to prevent adverse outcomes.

Language: en

Keywords

hemochromatosis; non-suicidal self-injury; phlebotomy; risk assessment; self-harm; self-injurious behavior; venesection