title: Self-inflicted eye injuries in first-episode and previously treated psychosis.
abstract: The purpose of the present paper was to describe the circumstances and phenomenology of patients who remove or pierce their eyes or orbits during psychotic illness. In particular, the aim was to determine if patients in their first-episode psychosis (FEP) carry an increased risk of self-inflicted eye injury when compared to patients with previously treated psychosis (PTP). Data were extracted from all of the case reports published in English since 1960 and from two unpublished Australian cases. More than half of the cases of self-inflicted eye injury that resulted in permanent loss of vision occurred during FEP. Serious self-inflicted eye injuries are rare, but the risk appears to be greatest during FEP. Earlier treatment of emerging psychosis and close attention to patients who attempt to injure their eyes may occasionally prevent blindness.
authors.affiliation: mmbl@bigpond.com
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Large
authors.forename: Doug
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Babidge
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hume
authors.forename: Olav
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Nielssen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents