title: Oedipism in a patient with frontal lobe encephalomalacia.
abstract: There is a growing recognition of the role of the frontal lobes in the aetiology of severe behavioural aberrations. The authors describe a case of Oedipism in a patient who had MRI evidence of frontal lobe encephalomalacia. After discussing the function of the frontal lobes in modulating behaviour the authors suggest that the structural lesion seen on the MRI was in part responsible for the patient's self-destructive act. Treatment issues and the importance of recognizing underlying structural lesions in instances of extreme self-mutilation are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Waldfogel
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Field
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003702:Delusions / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D004678:Encephalomalacia / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012652:Self Mutilation / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology