While working with deaf clients with mental retardation at a non-profit organization, I observed there were some clients that practice SIBs. What is SIBs?
Self Injurious Behavior- many names: Self-harm, self mutilation, focal suicide, symbolic wounding, cutting, parasuicide, Manchausen syndrome.

What actions would be identified in this disorder? Skin-cutting, burning skin with either lit cigarettes or teapots(or hot objects), applicating chemicals to skin intentionally, head-banging, self-choking, eye gourging, ear jabbing, self-biting, slapping, pinching, scratching, hair pulling; however it MUST be to the self's body, not on other people to be considered self-injurious behavior.

Why does people have SIBs? Reasons can be many but the common standards are childhood trauma, abandonment of one or both parents, neglect, sexual abuse, physical abuse, anxiety, a communication tool, mental retardation, autism, endorphin levels raising, and taking control over the environment (like institutions.) I have seen pictures on http://www.psyke.org/ of adolescents and adults's wounds; intentionally wounding themselves. The pictures can be VERY disturbing. If you have SIBs, the pictures can be a trigger to wound yourself again, so think again.

I find SIBs interesting because it is not recognized in DSM-IV, yet accepted as a symptom for four recognized disorders in that book. Does that make sense??? :P