[Self-immolation as an effort of self-rescue during a psychotic episode].
Self-immolation as reported in the literature usually happens in the context of suicide acts or political martyrdom. We report a case in which a patient during a first psychotic episode attempted to immolate herself: she covered her legs with pieces of clothing and set them a fire. Severe burning made amputation of both her legs necessary, one above, one below the knee. The patient had not acted in this way in order to die, but to save herself from the impending end of the world. She was convinced the earth was going to explode, and she would only be able to flee to Venus by self-immolation. She acted under the influence of imperative acoustic hallucinations encouraging her and pressing her to proceed. Antipsychotic treatment with clozapine resulted in complete remission of all psychotic symptoms. Other than during psychosis the patient didn't believe in life on other planets, had no fantasies about the end of the earth, no contact with sects and no religious or cultural motives for self-immolation.
Abteilung für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Krankenhaus Zum Guten Hirten Ludwigshafen.
Rainer
R
Niethammer
Jörg
J
Breitmaier
D000328:Adult; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000523:psychology; D002056:Burns / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D003702:Delusions / Q000523:psychology*; D003717:Denial, Psychological; D005260:Female; D005390:Fires; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D011939:Mental Recall; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D018635:Rescue Work; D012449:Safety; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000523:psychology*