ROLE OF PSYCHIATRIC-DISORDERS IN SELF-INFLICTED PERIODONTAL INJURY - A CASE-REPORT

SELF-INFLICTED OR FACTITIOUS INJURIES (FI) an not uncommon in psychiat ric patients. In general, this kind of behavior is linked to secondary gain. However, the role of underlying psychiatric illness should not be overlooked. Usually, the diagnosis of factitious injury can be conf irmed by a careful medical-dental history, clinical appearance of the lesion, laboratory investigations, and response to established treatme nt protocol, A case is presented in which repetitive injurious behavio r resulted in rapid periodontal attachment loss. The lesion responded well to conservative periodontal treatment. The role of underlying psy chiatric morbidity leading to repetitive self-injurious behavior is di scussed.