Auto-evisceration in an elderly schizophrenic female.

Auto-evisceration is a severe form of self-mutilation. The majority of cases consist of middle-aged male psychiatric patients with a history of depression, schizophrenia or drug abuse. Here we describe a case of right-sided auto-evisceration by a 72-year-old schizophrenic patient who has been living in a psychiatric institute since she was diagnosed 33 years ago. Following a commanding auditory hallucination, she auto-eviscerated her right eye manually. The patient was admitted to the ophthalmology hospital for further evaluation and treatment.