CHICAGO - Troubled teens are embedding nails, paper clips, bits of rock, glass and crayons in their bodies as a way to cope with disturbing feelings.
Researchers reported yesterday on cases in which teens - especially girls - had wounded themselves and forced objects under their skin in a condition called self-embedding disorder.
The disturbing trend is a step beyond more common forms of self-mutilation.
"We identified a group of 10 patients over a three-year period of time that have this pattern of self-inflicted injury," said Dr. William Shiels, who gave his findings at the Radiological Society of North America meeting in Chicago.
"It's cutting gone to the next level," Shiels said.
Shiels said nine of the patients were female and one was male. All were between 15 and 18 and most had significant psychiatric problems, including depression.
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