The Vision of Blindness-Sight Versus Insight: A Case Report and Literature Review of Self-enucleation (Oedipism)

Fatal Oedipism: A Case Report and Literature Review

PURPOSE

To describe a unique case of a fatal self-enucleation and review previously published cases.

METHODS

The authors describe a unique case of a complete unilateral self-enucleation while under the influence of drugs, which resulted in severe intracranial hemorrhages, right internal carotid artery opacification, and death. A literature review was performed by searching articles published before January 2023 in the Pubmed/MEDLINE database using the keywords "auto-enucleation or self-enucleation." Cases of self-inflicted damage to the globe without severing any connections were excluded.

RESULTS

A literature review identified a total of 54 articles and 75 patients who had self-enucleated at least one globe completely (84.0%). Their average age was 37 years and 50.7% were male. At the time of auto-enucleation, 64.0% of these patients had known psychiatric disorders, and 28.0% were found to be under the influence of illicit drugs or alcohol. Auto-enucleation resulted in intracranial complications in 26.7% of cases. There has been 1 prior case, which, like the authors' case, resulted in death due to intracranial complications. However, this occurred in a patient who partially enucleated one eye after a self-inflicted injury to the fellow eye. The current case is unique as these complications resulted from a complete unilateral auto-enucleation.

CONCLUSIONS

The severity of this case's presentation and outcome highlights the importance of prompt neuroimaging and a thorough assessment. Prompt psychiatric assessment and treatment are also required.

Commentary: Diagnostic and Treatment Issues in Psychosis

The 3 cases presented in this issue highlight challenges in evaluating and treating patients with psychotic symptoms. The first case involved the rare but debilitating condition of periodic catatonia, the second case involved the use of intranasal oxytocin to augment an antipsychotic for a patient with worsening psychotic symptoms (and a prior diagnosis of schizophrenia) in the postpartum period, and the third case involved auto-enucleation (often referred to as "Oedipism"), a violent form of self-mutilation, in a patient presenting with first-episode schizophrenia. These case reports reinforce the need to consider a wide differential diagnosis before initiating treatment. Understanding the broad spectrum with which psychotic symptoms can present, or rare presentations of more common conditions, can help clarify the diagnosis and guide treatment, and hopefully help prevent or reduce future self-harm or violence, psychotic episodes, and hospitalizations.