[Five male cases of wrist-cutting with suicidal intent].

Five male student cases of wrist-cutting with suicidal intent were reported. They had only one or two wrist-cutting episodes. They are compared to cases with wrist-cutting syndrome reported by Rosenthal et al. Four of the five cases occurred during a period with depressive symptom, and the fifth during a period with hallucinatoric and delusional state. One case was diagnosed as a schizophrenic, another as depressive and the other three had no clear diagnosis. Two of the five cases had one depressive or schizophrenic parent, and two other cases had one suicidal or accidental death of brother or father. Three of the five cases had tried other methods of suicide, drugs, electricity and gas. However, the prognosis of all five cases is good, three graduating and two remaining in the university. The male cases here have only one or two wrist-cutting episodes different from female cases where a larger number of episodes is common. However, it is necessary to remember that diagnosis for both males and females is very difficult and other symptoms are similar.