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.
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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.
Psychedelics are the shit and everybody should consider doing them, responsibly. Make sure you’re in a relatively good headspace, have someone you trust to quietly watch over you and comfort you if things get scary, and go do 5 years of therapy in a few hours.
Protip: you won’t have a bad trip if you unless you try to be in control. If it gets upsetting, that’s your cue you’re holding on to something and need to let go.
Sounds like they had really bad gender dysphoria if they resorted to cutting off their penis. I’ll admit I’ve wanted to do it myself many times, but was never able to go through with it physically. I still occasionally have weak desires to do it but my dysphoria is much better these days due to how much it has shrank on estrogen.
I knew we were in trouble when that damn… that egg commercial. That guy. I knew that was… the government’s take on drugs, you know, were fucked. Believe me. “Here’s your brain.”
I’ve seen a lot of weird shit on drugs. I’ve never ever ever EVER EVER looked at an egg and thought it was a fuckin’ brain. Not once. Alright? I have seen UFOs split the sky like a sheet, but I have never, ever, ever looked at an egg and thought it was a fuckin’ brain… NOT ONCE. I have had seven balls of light come off of a UFO, lead me onto their ship, explain to me -telepathically - that we are all one and there is no such thing as death, but I have never ever ever ever looked at an egg… and thought it was a fuckin’ brain.
Now… Maybe I wasn’t getting good shit.
Bill Hicks
Not to say that psychedelics can’t cause psychotic states. I’m not going to say that, because it’s not true. I’m writing this at the start so no-one gets the wrong idea.
The syndrome is known, “Klingsor syndrome”. Usually (read: “always”) those self-injury inflicting patients have a long history of mental illness.
This man had a history of depression and alcohol abuse. Alcohol abuse and delirium tremens are more likely to induce violent psychotic episodes than mushrooms.
I mean, granted dude took a heroic dose. I’m not saying the mushrooms had nothing to do with it, obviously they did.
I’m just saying the title very much reads in a “don’t do shrooms you’ll cut your dick off” kind of way, which is very much not the case here. If any substance had most to do with this, it’s probably alcohol, which is known to cause a lot of mental issues, especially depression and psychosis. As in dudes probably been drinking his whole life, or years at least, which probably had more influence on the person than one (heroic) dose if shrooms.
I used to really really struggle with alcohol abuse problems, I’m sober now, I’ve also done shrooms a bunch. In my experience you are definitely right. The drinking would cause crazy delusions and thoughts, it was fucking wild man. Being on a bender for 5 or 6 days. Getting horrible sleep. Eating nothing. Your body revolts against you and everything starts to fail. Your mind doesn’t function properly anymore and time is fucked and you think everyone is against you and come up with these crazy near impossible theories and plans. Sweating and shaking even though youre still drinking you just can’t stomach enough to get the shakes away. I would do crazy things during these times I’m not proud of. Never had any of that with shrooms lol
Anyone remember that guy on reddit who did the same but with a gun? I can’t remember if it was mushrooms or acid but he had several psychotic episodes
Penile amputations while on mushrooms: 1
Penile amputations while Austrian: probably more than 1
I think we know what the real cause was here.
… New bottom surgery just dropped?
Sometimes when dysphoria is really bad and access to gender affirming care is denied, there isn’t much choice. It’s sad and scary that for some of us this is how it must be but that’s just the way things are sometimes.
Talk about an axe wound
She even started her first period!
Was looking for that comment :P
Meanwhile 1000s of drunk drivers kill people every day and nobody cares
That’s exactly why it’s not as interesting of a story though.
Two things can be bad at the same time.
It’s just annoying to see articles like this because it scares people into thinking mushrooms should remain illegal. That’s despite the fact that mushrooms are infinitely less harmful than alcohol and this penis chopping guy is an outlier of outliers
People care. You’re forgetting that there’s money to made on that. Capitalism!
That sucks, and folks should do their research and have trip sitters.
It’s the first known instance, though - this is not worth changing your behavior over, something that’s never been known to happen after humans have been tripping on the things forever.
I’m incredibly impressed at the recovery. While it sucks to lose length and have the urethra open in an odd location they saved the glans. Hopefully some feeling is still there.
So they saved the mushroom tip :D
although he continued to suffer from severe psychotic symptoms, including auditory hallucinations and religious delusions.
I gotta move to Austria
This is why they need to fucking legalise it for psychiatric treatment. Otherwise people with depression are just going to medicate themselves and fuck up.
Thought you meant the penile amputation lol.
Well that was a nice horrifying read
Sorry if you found that upsetting, MY_ANUS_IS_BLEEDING.
Solid reference
Have you ever tripped so hard you chopped off your dick?
No but I’ve wanted to real bad from gender dysphoria, didn’t have it in me to get through to do more than a surface level cut before the blood and pain got to me. For not having one myself I am a pussy when it comes to blood and pain ☹️
Not yet but I like to keep an open mind.
Top marks to the surgical team getting some functionality back in such challenging circumstances.
And I read that as ‘challenging circumcision.’
I mean, you aren’t wrong.
“…thanks to advances in stem cell research and the fine work of Doctors Krinsky and Altschuler, he should regain full reproductive function again.”
Incredible really, and with minimal draw backs.
Steady on, that’s a bit off!