Self-injurious behavior in Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

Self-injurious behaviors in psychiatric disorders are not uncommon, particularly among developmentally disabled children and psychotic patients. However; this phenomenon is rarely discussed in Alzheimer's disease. In this paper we cite a case of self-injurious behavior in a patient with probable Alzheimer's disease and speculate about psychologic, neurochemical, as well as potential environmental and psychosocial etiologies.Garret Hagen, BS, is a fourth year medical student at