health
Study examines extreme form of self-injury
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted May 23, 2011
Patients who perform self-embedding behavior are mostly white teenage females with multiple psychiatric diagnoses, according to a study posted online May 9 in Pediatrics. The study authors encourage physicians who treat young patients to be aware of this extreme form of self injury, which often is accompanied by suicidal intentions. Self-embedding behavior involves people putting foreign objects -- often items made of glass, wood or metal -- under their skin.
Researchers examined data on 600 patients at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, who were receiving radiologic treatment for foreign objects in their soft tissue. Of these cases, 11 adolescents had embedded the items into their skin, subcutaneous tissue or muscle (link).
The authors said self-embedding behavior is a manifestation of a larger problem. They recommend that physicians refer patients who partake in such acts to a mental health professional.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/05/23/hlbf0523.htm.
