Abstract
The Sri Lanka Journal of Psychiatry (SLJP) is a peer-reviewed, open access journal published bi annually by the Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists.The Journal publishes original papers, brief reports including case reports and commentaries relevant to psychiatry and allied sciences. The Sri Lanka Journal of Psychiatry is committed to maintaining and conforming to the editorial and ethical standards recommended by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors.Cover“Perseverance”. These tenacious fishermen in Mannar continue their livelihood despite numerous difficulties. L. N. P. Samarasinghe, Acting Consultant Psychiatrist, Base Hospital Nikaweratiya, Sri Lanka.
Highlights
Coprophagia is a condition described as the compulsive consumption of faeces
Non-pharmacological strategies are based on behavioral theories and cognitive behavioural therapies (CBT) [6,7]
We present the successful management of coprophagia in a patient with resistant schizophrenia
Summary
Coprophagia is a condition described as the compulsive consumption of faeces. The word, stems from Greek: “copros” and “phagein” meaning “faeces” and “to eat” respectively [1]. We felt that his symptom of coprophagia had a compulsive nature to it, the thought was secondary to a command hallucination and not an obsession. The sertraline was prescribed in order to reduce his distress and the compulsive nature of the behaviour He underwent cognitive behaviour therapy, where the therapist encouraged him to recognize the hallucination as a voice, while encouraging him not to take part in the action of ingesting the faeces. Following almost six weeks of hospital stay, which included bi-weekly sessions of psychotherapy, together with the combination of clozapine and sertraline, his coprophagia had ceased. He is currently being followed up as an out-patient. The patient gave informed consent for the publication of the findings in this case report
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