A mental illness in which a person feels, for emotional reasons, compelled to cut, burn, or do other forms of painful harm to his or her body. Self-mutilation is not a suicide attempt, but people who mutilate themselves are at greater risk for suicide. The disorder also carries the risk of infection from using dirty instruments. Self-mutilation is often accompanied by mood disorders such as depression and anxiety and requires evaluation by a psychiatrist or other mental health professional. Medication and psychotherapy may be useful for controlling mood.