Deliberate self harm and the surgeon: report of two cases

ABSTRACT

Deliberate Self Harm [DSH], formerly known as parasuicide, is commonly diagnosed in hospital emergency rooms, typically presenting with self poisoning and less often with self induced lacerations mostly of the wrists and forearms. We report two cases of atypical presentation that posed a diagnostic challenge for the surgeons in our hospital and discuss the epidemiology, psychopathology and treatment options