THE PROBLEMS OF SELF-INJURIOUS-BEHAVIOR

Background: Self-damage is defined as intentional injury of the own bo dy. Patients with this disorder often consult and deceive surgeons. In case of factitious disease the diagnosis of self-injurious behavior c an be difficult. Methods: A literature review on self-injuring behavio r was done with special emphasis on its clinical presentation in surgi cal departments, its psychodynamic background and the therapeutic cons equences. Results: Self-damaging behavior is most frequent in adolesce nt females. Both a disturbed relation with the own body and with fello w-beings is the problem of all patients. Deprivation, physical or sexu al abuse are common in the biography of these patients. The feelings o f internal emptiness and unbearable psychic tension are the immediate psychodynamic causes of the self-damaging act. Psychotherapeutic strat egies are aimed at learning to express emotions in a better way, to ca re for the own body, and to establish confidential and stable relation ships. Conclusions: The knowledge of the psychodynamic background faci litates the therapeutic approach to patients with self-injuring behavi or.