Cold Injury Caused by Psychiatric Illness: Six Case Reports

Abstract

SummarySix patients are reported in whom mental illness led to severe cold injury. The main contributory factors were cold surroundings, inactivity and neglect. The additional factor of impaired microcirculation in these patients may also be significant.In the winter of 1979 two instances of cold injury in patients with mental illness came to our attention. A search of the medical records at the Whittington Hospital revealed a further three cases over a period of 14 years. One patient was seen at the National Hospital for Nervous Diseases, Queen Square.