- After eating psychedelic mushrooms, an Austrian man removed his penis with an axe
- Psilocybin is potentially dangerous for people with mental health problems
- The man is placed under psychiatric care and prescribed appropriate medication
After eating psychedelic mushrooms, an Austrian man removed his penis with an axe
Psilocybin is becoming increasingly popular in medical research because of its potential therapeutic benefits, but in extreme cases, it exposes its bad qualities when used in uncontrolled environments. This is what happened this time.
A 37-year-old Austrian man pushed the boundaries, to say the least, by chopping off his own penis with a blunt axe after ingesting a large dose of the hallucinogen psilocybin, placing the fragments of his genitalia in a jar of earth and muddy snow. It is claimed that in similar cases, doctors are usually able to attach the penis fragments after disinfecting and cleaning them.
Psilocybin is known to be a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in so-called magic mushrooms. Although psychedelic therapies are slowly making their way to Europe, there are obstacles before they reach patients. The psychoactive properties of the chemical can cause severe hallucinations, fundamentally altering a person's perception of the world around them[1].
Psilocybin is becoming a popular subject of medical research as a potential treatment for mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but it is also often misused for recreational purposes. In fact, there are currently over 20 studies underway to test it in a broader context, and there is no doubt that it holds promise for the treatment of depression.
Although this case is unprecedented in Europe, it highlights the risks of unsupervised use of psychedelics, especially for individuals with comorbid mental health problems.
However, no other similar incidents have been reported in Europe. However, some psychiatric literature does report cases of self-harm or psychosis related to the use of substances, including other drugs.
Psilocybin is potentially dangerous for people with mental health problems
A study at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis has documented how psilocybin can affect people's perception of space and time, leading to a loss of control, so to speak. One thing is clear: in the uncontrolled environment of clinical laboratories, psilocybin can be extremely dangerous - especially for those who already have a mental health disorder that causes psychosis[2].
A report by the Academic Training Unit of the Feldkirch Hospital in Austria details how a white man with a history of depression and occasional alcohol abuse consumed four or five dried magic mushrooms when he was alone in his home. Shortly after the effects of the mushroom "gained momentum", the man cut his penis in four with an axe, then, panic-stricken, tied a cloth around his genitals and put the cut fragments in a jar. Confused and bleeding, he searched for help until a passer-by found him and took him to a nearby village, where an ambulance arrived, some five hours after the incident. The patient, who had lost a lot of blood and was in a critical condition, underwent emergency surgery. Although doctors managed to save the tip of the penis and 2 cm of the shaft of the penis by reattaching them macroscopically, other parts were too damaged and contaminated to be reattached.
The victim had no recollection of this event.
The man is placed under psychiatric care and prescribed appropriate medication
The operation was largely successful; the patient recovered relatively quickly, and four months later, "good urine flow and erection" were reported, although a total of 5 cm had to be removed and a minor complication developed. The man also received intensive psychiatric care and medication for psychotic symptoms and religious delusions.
In any case, psilocybin is becoming increasingly popular in medical research because of its potential therapeutic benefits, but an extreme case has highlighted the potential dangers of this drug. Nevertheless, this is the first case of psilocybin-induced self-amputation, a rare condition involving self-amputation of the penis. While this is an extreme example of the dangers of psilocybin, the case report highlights the potential risks of the drug when used by individuals with more severe mental health problems associated with psychosis.
"Psilocybin therapy has been successfully tested in patients with depression. However, in addition to the therapeutic effect, up to 31% and 17% of patients taking high doses of psilocybin experienced fear and paranoia, respectively," said the study.
Due to the lack of protocols for dealing with this rare entity, it is important to report these cases to gain experience[3].
It is believed that the vast majority of studies on psychedelics when administered in a controlled environment, continue to show promising potential benefits for the treatment of mental health conditions. The researchers add that these mushrooms are relatively harmless substances, as most adverse reactions are short-lived and any risks can supposedly be reduced by taking certain precautions.
