Genitalia self-mutilation commanded by hallucinations: a psychointensive case of Klingsor syndrome

Klingsor Syndrome: Genital Self-Mutilation in a Psychotic Patient

Self-mutilation attempts are common in psychiatric practice. One form of self-harm, genital self-mutilation (GSM), is less common but may have severe consequences. GSM acts can occur in different diagnoses such as personality disorders, substance abuse disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and psychotic disorders. When GSM is performed due to psychotic symptoms, the clinical picture is called Klingsor Syndrome. GSM is often associated with severe psychosis and often accompanied by religious delusions. In our article, we discussed a case of schizophrenia with penile autoamputation due to religious delusions. A 28-year-old male patient was admitted to our hospital after penile autoamputation. After surgical interventions, the patient's follow-up continued in our clinic. The patient had auditory hallucinations, delusions of persecution, and sinfulness. His symptoms improved after antipsychotic treatment. It is important to identify the risk factors of Klingsor Syndrome, which is a rare but serious condition, and to intervene early in these patients. Keywords: Self-mutilation, Psychosis, Self-injurious Behavior.

Rudy and Borden technique for penile self-mutilation in Klingsor syndrome: a case report

Penile self-mutilation is a challenging situation that often jeopardizes sexual and voiding functions. Surgical treatment is currently based on penile replantation, nevertheless its requirements of time, conservation, and quality of amputated phallus and microsurgical expertise are not constantly available. Here, we present a case of penile self-inflicted amputation in a 28-years-old patient suffering from a psychotic disorder, who did not preserve the amputated phallus. In the first clinical examination, we have attested a hemorrhagic total penile section, 6cm from the penoscrotal angle. We performed immediate surgical management. Rudy and Borden technique is a reconstructive surgery procedure with interesting functional results, by performing a dorsal vascularized split-thickness skin flap to cover the penile shaft. The aim of this technique is to avoid perineostomy which compounds significantly the quality of life.