Year: 1977 Source: Dynamische Psychiatrie, v.10, no.42, (1977), p.42-48 SIEC No: 19850591

The author reviews pertinent literature on the symptomatology of self-mutilation & discusses, in particular, the psychodynamics of patients who cut their wrists. He believes that this self-mutilation should be distinguished from other suicidal & pre-suicidal acts as it is an act that the patient makes use of to find his way back to reality: that is, by inflicting pain he regains the feelings of his bodily & ego borderlines.