In an unprecedented case report, doctors in Austria have documented the first known instance of psilocybin-induced penile amputation. After consuming a large quantity of magic mushrooms, a 37-year-old man suffering from depression and alcohol abuse severed his penis with an axe. Fortunately, doctors were able to reattach part of the amputated organ. The unique case is detailed in the Mega Journal of Surgery.

Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in certain species of mushrooms, often referred to as “magic mushrooms.” When ingested, the compound is broken down in the body to produce psilocin, a substance that affects serotonin receptors in the brain. This can lead to a variety of mind-altering experiences, including hallucinations, changes in perception of time, and intense emotional shifts. The use of psilocybin has a long history, dating back to ancient cultures that used it for religious or spiritual purposes.

Today, psilocybin is gaining attention in medical research due to its potential therapeutic benefits. Scientists are investigating its use in treating conditions like depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. In particular, studies have shown promising results for psilocybin’s ability to alleviate symptoms in people with major depressive disorder, even when other treatments have failed.

In addition to its therapeutic potential, psilocybin is of interest to neuroscientists for what it reveals about the brain’s inner workings. By studying how psilocybin disrupts and alters normal brain function, researchers can gain insights into how the brain produces consciousness, processes emotions, and constructs a sense of self. These findings have the potential to improve our understanding of various mental health conditions and open new pathways for treatment.

However, while psilocybin has shown promise in clinical settings, its use outside of these controlled environments can lead to dangerous outcomes. The case described in Austria is a stark reminder that, in certain circumstances, psilocybin can provoke extreme psychological responses, particularly when taken in high doses or by individuals with a history of mental health issues.

The case report published by doctors at Hospital Feldkirch in Austria outlines the shocking details of a 37-year-old man who consumed a large dose of psilocybin and, during a severe psychotic episode, amputated his penis using an axe. The man, who had a history of depression and alcohol abuse, ingested four or five dried psilocybin mushrooms while staying alone in a secluded vacation home.

Not long after consuming the mushrooms, the man began to experience a terrifying hallucination or delusion, which led him to take an axe and sever his penis into multiple pieces. The details of the event are unclear to the patient, as he did not fully remember what had occurred.

The man reportedly tied a piece of cloth around his genital area to control the bleeding and placed the severed parts of his penis in a jar filled with snow. He then left the house, bleeding profusely, in search of help. A passerby found him in a confused state and called for emergency services. The man was transported to a nearby village and later to a hospital, arriving approximately five hours after the amputation.

Upon arrival, the patient was in a critical condition, having lost a significant amount of blood. He was immediately taken into surgery, where doctors worked to stabilize him and control the bleeding. His penis was contaminated with soil and snow, and parts of the organ were severely damaged. Surgeons were able to save the glans (the tip of the penis) and about two centimeters of the penile shaft, but the other sections were too damaged to be repaired.

Remarkably, the replantation was successful, despite the significant challenges posed by the extent of the injury and contamination. Despite initial difficulties, the patient’s condition improved after the surgery, although he continued to suffer from severe psychotic symptoms, including auditory hallucinations and religious delusions. He was placed under psychiatric care, and his treatment included antipsychotic medications to help control the hallucinations. His mental state gradually stabilized, and after a week, he was moved back to the urology department to continue his recovery.

In the weeks following the surgery, the patient experienced some complications. Superficial necrosis (death of skin tissue) developed on the glans of his penis, likely due to the loss of blood flow during the period of ischemia, but this healed over time. Remarkably, the patient was able to regain some erectile function within three months of the surgery, though the overall length of his penis was significantly reduced due to the damage. At his last follow-up visit, he was able to urinate normally while seated, though a minor complication called hypospadias developed, where the urethral opening is located further down the shaft than normal.

While this case is the first documented instance of psilocybin-induced self-amputation, it brings attention to a broader phenomenon of self-mutilation during psychotic episodes, particularly among individuals with underlying mental health conditions. Known as Klingsor syndrome, these rare but extreme events often involve self-inflicted injury to the genitals and can be associated with a range of psychiatric conditions, from schizophrenia to substance-induced psychosis.

Case reports are typically used by doctors and researchers to document unusual or rare medical events. They offer valuable real-world examples of how certain drugs, treatments, or conditions can manifest in unique circumstances. However, because case reports usually focus on a single patient, they do not provide the kind of broad, statistically significant data that is needed to establish definitive conclusions about a drug or condition.

In other words, while this case demonstrates that psilocybin can, in rare instances, lead to severe psychotic episodes and self-harm, it does not mean that this outcome is common or likely to happen in most people who use psilocybin. In fact, the majority of research on psilocybin has shown that the drug is relatively safe when used in controlled environments with professional supervision.

  • ALoafOfBread@lemmy.ml
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    3 months ago

    The “suffered from alcohol abuse” may have played a role here. I can’t imagine being so out of it on shrooms that you dismember yourself. But maybe it makes more sense if he was drunk too

    • WoahWoah@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      He was on antipsychotics and treatment for a week before he was mentally stable. There was more than mushrooms going on here. I’m guessing he may have problems with psychosis to begin with, and, combined with what I assume must’ve been an obscene amount of mushrooms, it caused a psychotic break.

      • TranscendentalEmpire@lemm.ee
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        3 months ago

        Yeah… It kinda seems like he planned to amputate his penis before hand and was utilizing the shrooms as a diy analgesic.

        I don’t have any history of psychosis, but I have been dosed with too many shrooms before. In my experience, getting from under my blanket of fortitude would have required more mental acumen than what the mushrooms permitted.

        I don’t think I could have thought to apply a tourniquet, or remember to put my dismembered penis in a jar of ice unless I had prepped everything before the stuff kicked in.

      • TheFriar@lemm.ee
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        3 months ago

        The article states he ate “four to five dried mushrooms.” That could be anywhere from like 2grams to probably 7 grams. A little over seven g is considered a “heroic” dose. It can fuck you up. I’ve done it, but thankfully didn’t lose what little dick I was given from birth

    • Mango@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      I can imagine someone being upset enough to do something like this if they’ve got gender dysphoria and aren’t rich enough for all that medical fuss. Shrooms don’t make you stupid though. You’re also not gonna do it by accident.

    • the post of tom joad@sh.itjust.works
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      3 months ago

      Joke i know, but still I have taken a shit ton of mushrooms, i did DMT once (that time i did need a spotter lol)… I’ve done many drugs tbh and never did i ever think of choppin’ poor lil’ tommy.

    • pandapoo@sh.itjust.works
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      3 months ago

      That, and people who have certain underlying mental health issues, or a family history of them, such as schizophrenia, should never take psychedelic drugs.

      Consult a doctor, or at least Google, for a more complete list of the conditions that do not respond well to psychedelics.

  • jpreston2005@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    This sounds like he had some severe mental health issues that a really bad trip exacerbated. Also, one shouldn’t mix mushrooms with other substances unless you already know how it will affect you or at least in limited amounts, like a hit of weed to calm you down during the intense ‘come up’ of the shroom trip.

    Also for every story of shroom induced psychosis resulting in injury, there’s thousands of pleasurable/therapeutic trips that take place without recognition. I think this guy may have a history of sexual abuse resulting in some serious issues. Gotta microdose my man!

    • Frog@lemmy.ca
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      3 months ago

      My assumptions were sexual abuse or body dysmorphic disorder.

      • Blazingtransfem98@discuss.online
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        3 months ago

        I have a feeling it could’ve been gender dysphoria. I’ve known people who did that to themselves because of penis dysphoria and they weren’t on mushrooms, it’s likely they did this to themself for similar reasons and just happened to be on mushrooms.

    • Blazingtransfem98@discuss.online
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      3 months ago

      Sometimes it do be necessary for some of us. Lucky for me mine shrunk a lot on E, or I very well might’ve done what they did.

      Edit: Transphobic dipshit downvoter has no understanding of just how bad it can be to have gender dysphoria. I hope you never have to feel just how truly awful it feels like to be born in the wrong body and feel out of place in life. It sucks royally.

      • 200ok@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        Not sure why you’re getting downvoted. This was honestly the first thing I was curious about when I saw the headline 💔

        • Blazingtransfem98@discuss.online
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          3 months ago

          Lemmy may harbor less transphobes than Reddit does but they’re still here, these ones are just the ones transphobic enough to click downvote, but too scared of repercussions to speak their mind, I wish they would so they’d be banned faster.

  • mhague@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    This is a serious question. How do they know it’s not living in Austria that may lead to you cutting your penis off? Is the percentage of men living in Austria who mutilate themselves higher than the percentage of men who take psilocybin who do the same? We may be on to something.

    • Cethin@lemmy.zip
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      3 months ago

      Seeing as this is the first case, as mentioned in the article, yes. 100% of penile mutilations while under the effects of psilocybin are done by men in Austria.

  • Blazingtransfem98@discuss.online
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    3 months ago

    I have a feeling they had some serious penis dysphoria, and were using the mushrooms as a coverup so they could cut it off without being outed. I had friends who had dysphoria that bad and couldn’t get bottom surgery due to expense or transphobic doctors and they took matters into their own hands, sadly for many it wasn’t enough and they took their own lives because of the dysphoria.

    It feels really shitty that people are mocking this person for this or saying they’re crazy, dysphoria is no joke, and if E hadn’t shrunk mine as much as it did I may have done the same as where I live I can’t get bottom surgery unless I can “prove I’m a woman”, I wouldn’t even have been able to get on estrogen if I didn’t DIY it for the same stupid reason. Thank goodness for grey-market estrogen online.

    • ComradeSharkfucker@lemmy.ml
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      3 months ago

      I was gonna make a joke like “I hope she’s ok” but I worried it might be taken the wrong way. Glad I wasn’t the only one to think this

      • Blazingtransfem98@discuss.online
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        3 months ago

        I used they/them because when it comes to people who aren’t quite out it’s hard to know what they may or may not be okay with. Some people aren’t at the point where she/her is comfortable, denial can be really bad as well. Also might be a transfem enby, we don’t know that much about them though.

    • untorquer@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      Ah, i think i understand the trope of being drawn to body horror a little better now.

      Im really happy you were able to get E though!!!

      • Blazingtransfem98@discuss.online
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        3 months ago

        Yeah body horror can be very relatable in many ways, because in the same way they are turning into something unpleasant and grotesque, to many of us, our assigned sex at birth carries very similar feelings.

        I’m very happy too. Though it’s hard being on DIY since I have to be careful and the changes have been slower than normal. Really wish I had been able to do it officially but I guess getting HRT without degrading yourself is too much to ask ☹️.

    • excral@feddit.org
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      3 months ago

      What in this article had you jump to the conclusion that he wanted to chop his penis off? Dysphoria is a thing, no questions about that, but the vast majority of men don’t want their penis removed and from the article it doesn’t seem this man is an exception.

      First of all, self mutilation is a known phenomenon of psychotic episodes. While this is the first documented case of penile amputation that’s also the reason the case study was conducted and we’re reading about it at all.

      Next, he has years of depression in his past. For a depression do be diagnosed he has to be under some form of psychological care. While no guarantee that greatly improves the change of dysphoria being diagnosed, especially if it were severe enough to resort to self amputation with an axe.

      Ultimately, once he came to his senses he did everything in his power to save his penis. If it was his great plan to amputate his penis while making it look like a drug-fueled accident or even if just wanted it removed but couldn’t do so while sober, why would he put it on ice? Shouldn’t he be glad or relieved it’s gone? If he was dysphoric, I would expect him to make sure it doesn’t get to the hospital with him.

      Everything here implies that he didn’t want to mutilate or amputate his penis and in that case implying it was intentional quite insulting, too.

  • umbrella@lemmy.ml
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    3 months ago

    always have a sober trip sitter.

    you cant know if you are gonna have a bad trip, or if a mental illness you didnt know you had will fuck you up.

    • Blazingtransfem98@discuss.online
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      3 months ago

      I have a strong feeling it could’ve also been from gender dysphoria in addition to all that. I should know, I’ve had my fair share of unpleasant genital dysphoria, and while I didn’t do that I wanted to. I also know those who have indeed done it, they did it without any mushrooms but I could see how one of them could’ve done it on mushrooms.

  • vulgarcynic@sh.itjust.works
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    1 month ago

    Growing up we had 4 rules for tripping

    1. You always need another cigarette
    2. That didn’t happen
    3. Cars are real
    4. You probably shouldn’t

    Any questions, refer to rule 1 and start the process over again. My man here needed #4.

    Trip responsibly kids.

  • Themaskofz@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    Man I ate way too many mushrooms and cried after convincing myself I was autistic while listening to Dr Hook, but I didn’t cut off shit… this is right wing bait

      • Blazingtransfem98@discuss.online
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        3 months ago

        Bottom surgery done the correct way >>> penis cut off.

        (I wish they’d let me get it 😭, well at least mine is much smaller than it was before I started estrogen)

    • Blazingtransfem98@discuss.online
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      Indeed it is, this person obviously had problems around their penis, personally I think it could’ve been gender dysphoria but it could’ve also been sexual trauma. Either way, shrooms alone aren’t going to make you want to cut your dick off. Gender dysphoria absolutely can and sometimes does make you feel that way though, take my word for it, dysphoria is no joke.

  • Nastybutler@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    Surgeons were able to save the glans (the tip of the penis) and about two centimeters of the penile shaft, but the other sections were too damaged to be repaired.

    Remarkably, the patient was able to regain some erectile function within three months of the surgery, though the overall length of his penis was significantly reduced due to the damage

    Oof. Dude ended up giving himself a micropenis. Better than nothing, but still…

      • KingJalopy @lemm.ee
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        3 months ago

        Yeah I definitely thought that comment would do better but I’m only half joking as obviously you seem to know

  • RaoulDook@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    Wu Tang rapper “Christ Bearer” did the same thing on PCP and then attempted suicide years ago. He’s apparently doing somewhat OK these days despite that.

    • Blazingtransfem98@discuss.online
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      3 months ago

      War on drugs is being fought in this comment section with downvotes and shitty fear mongering, and just that little bit of thinly veiled transphobia.

    • Cethin@lemmy.zip
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      3 months ago

      I don’t think this is fear mongering. In fact, I’d say it’s the opposite. It discusses the benefits, and that studies show that events like this are extremely unlikely to happen. Someone will use it to fear monger, but this is not doing so.