@article{ref1,
title="Self-amputation of the ear: three men amputate four ears within five months",
journal="Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry",
year="1995",
author="Alroe, C. J. and Gunda, V.",
volume="29",
number="3",
pages="508-512",
abstract="Four instances are presented of self-amputation of the pinna of the external ear carried out by three right-handed, white males between January 1993 and May 1993. The common characteristics of these subjects--two men with personality disorder and one with schizophrenia--are discussed and compared with other examples of self-mutilation involving the face and ears, including that of van Gogh. A survey of Australian and New Zealand prisons was conducted to determine the frequency of this form of self-mutilation within the last five years, and yielded only one other case. Connections exist between the amputees supporting the notion that self-mutilation is &quot;contagious&quot;; the relevance of this to issues of management is considered.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0004-8674",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}