Potential relationship of self-injurious behavior to right temporo-parietal lesions

ABSTRACT

Self-injurious behavior (SIB) is associated with several neurologic and psychiatric syndromes but rarely with focal lesions. Two patients with lesions of the right temporo-parietal junction presented to psychiatric inpatient services with SIB in the absence of notable neurologic deficits or suicidal ideation. Right temporo-parietal lesions may be associated with disturbances of agency and body ownership, both of which may facilitate SIB. Misoplegia, or hatred of a limb, may be associated with SIB and has been reported without hemiplegia with a right temporo-parietal lesion. Further study is warranted to improve our understanding of the mechanisms underlying SIB.

KEYWORDS:

• Stroke
• laterality
• parietal lobe
• temporal lobe
• self-injurious behavior (SIB)

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.