"Gauguin was not present at the supposed self-mutilation, " he told Le Figaro newspaper in France.

BBC: Gauguin 'cut off Van Gogh's ear'

There is a high incidence among them of self-mutilation, suicide and psychological breakdown.

ECONOMIST: Prisons

At PatientsLikeMe, there are forums where people discuss experiences with AIDS, supranuclear palsy, depression, organ transplants, post-traumatic stress disorder and self-mutilation.

WSJ: 'Scrapers' Dig Deep for Data on the Web

Celebrating peace, faith and good health through self-mutilation and deprivation, fire, rockets and a general atmosphere of anxiety, this annual event is a fascinating way to see a very real slice of life in Phuket.

BBC: Phuket's Vegetarian Festival

Labour could yet go back to self-mutilation if the government sticks to its bizarre plan to increase the time suspected terrorists can be held without charge, and if (or when) the Tories win in Crewe.

ECONOMIST: Bagehot