Self-mutilation Causes & Risks

Causes

Self-mutilation is a severe impulse control disorder that is often associated with other psychiatric disorders, such as:

Borderline personality disorder (most common)
Depression
Substance abuse ( alcoholism or drug abuse )
Eating disorders ( anorexia or bulimia )
Psychosis
Antisocial personality disorders
Post-traumatic stress disorder

Brain—Psychological Organ

Self-mutilation is often associated with psychiatric disorders that may be caused by chemical imbalances in the brain.

It can also be associated with neurologic or metabolic disorders such as:

Syringomyelia (a disorder where cysts form on the spinal cord)
Tourette syndrome (a neurological disorder)
Autism (a disorder that results in social, behavioral, and language problems)
Lesch-Nyhan syndrome (a genetic disorder)

Risk Factors

These factors increase your chance of developing this condition. Tell your doctor if you have any of these risk factors:

Childhood sexual, physical, or emotional abuse
Violence or other abusive relationships in childhood home
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Being in prison
Sex: female
Age: adolescence
Mental retardation
Autism
Certain metabolic disorders

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Copyright © 2025 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.