Abstract

NON SUICIDAL SELF INJURY BY CUTTING IN A CHRONIC ALCOHOLIC: A CASE REPORT

Suvendu Narayan Mishra, Monalisa Jena*, Swati Mishra, Ashirbad Sathpathy

Abstract

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is very uncommon and poorly documented in case of children, adult and elderly persons as compared to adolescent population. Not all self-destructive behaviour are recommended as tendency to suicide. So there is need of better understanding regarding the NSSI for prevention of this type of abnormal behaviour. Understanding non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) across the lifespan requires comprehension of the interaction between developmental periods and self-injury behaviors. We report a case of 26 year male patient with history of chronic alcoholism with violent behavior and attempted cutting down his wrist, with a knife without the intention of causing harm to himself or suicide. This phenomenon was repeated many a times. On repeated follow up to the psychiatry department of our hospital with complete stoppage of alcohol, management of withdrawal and proper counseling, the recurrence of the NSSI has been stopped.

Keywords: NSSI, Alcohol withdrawal, counseling, adolescent.