Functional Neuroanatomy of Secondary Self-Injurious Behavior

Background: Secondary self-injurious behavior (SSIB) is underreported and predominantly not associated with suicide. In both adults and children, SSIB can cause intractable self-harm and is associated with a variety of clinical disorders, particularly those involving dysfunctional motor control.

Methods: We performed a literature review evaluating the clinical efficacy of deep-brain stimulation (DBS) as modulating SSIB observations and review current progress in preclinical SSIB animal studies.

Results: Neuromodulation is an effective therapeutic option for several movement disorders. Interestingly, this approach is emerging as a potentially effective treatment for movement disorder-associated SSIB (secondary); however, it is important to understand the neuroanatomy, clinical appraisal, and outcome data when considering surgical therapy for SSIB.

Conclusion: The current review examines the literature encompassing animal models and human case studies while identifying existing hypotheses from cytoarchitectonic-based targeting to neurotransmitter-based pathways. This review also highlights the need for awareness of an underrecognized pathology that may be amenable to DBS.