Updating acute intermittent porphyria: a case of self-mutilation.

Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) as a precipitant of self-multilation in inmates, has not been documented. This case illustrates how AIP can go undiagnosed unless there is a high index of suspicion of this disease in the psychiatric patient, with persistent abdominal pains. This case illustrates the need to take seriously, the complaints of psychiatric patients, especially toxic-like symptoms, increasing paralysis, and abdominal pains. Perhaps acute intermittent prophyria has not been given the necessary attention in the literature which accounts for our failure to develop specific treatment methods.