Disappearance of self-aggressive behavior in a brain-injured patient after deep brain stimulation of the hypothalamus: technical case report.

Abstract

Self-mutilation is a severe symptom of diseases with varying etiologies. It can be observed in the context of mental retardation and after traumatic brain injury. Pharmacological treatment approaches often prove ineffective. We report the case of a 22-year-old woman with repetitive self-mutilating behavior in the mouth area after severe traumatic brain injury. Bilateral deep brain stimulation of the posterior hypothalamus was conducted and resulted in the complete elimination of self-mutilation during a 4-month observation period. This technical case report indicates that deep brain stimulation of the posterior hypothalamus could be a promising approach in the treatment of severe self-mutilating behavior.