Self-mutilating behaviors could be minor and benign, but more severe cases are usually
associated with psychiatric disorders or with acquired nervous system lesions and could be
life-threatening. The patient was a 66-year-old man who had been mutilating his fingers for 6
years. This behavior started as serious nail biting and continued as severe finger mutilation
(by biting), resulting in loss of the terminal phalanges of all fingers in both hands. On
admission, he complained only about insomnia. The electromyography showed severe …