Penile Self-Mutilation Presenting as Rational Attempted Suicide

Genital self-mutilation is rare & reports suggest that it is usually associated with psychotic illness. The authors report a case in which penile self-mutilation was an attempt to commit suicide & justified as a rational action. The literature on genital self-mutilation is reviewed. It is argued that the strong association between genital self-mutilation & psychosis may be the result of selective reporting. (18 refs.)