Presentation of stretch syncope as a coping mechanism in an adolescent male with anxiety disorder and non-suicidal self-harm behaviour

Background: It has been established the reflex mechanism behind the Stretch Syncope, as well as its association with psychiatric conditions such as Anxiety, Depression and Schizoaffective Disorders, among others. Non-suicidal self-harm behavior is another element strongly related to similar psychiatric diagnosis. Interventions aiming to ameliorate or control Anxiety, Depressive Symptoms and others, may produce relevant improvement of Stretch Syncope which as is shown in this case, can be used as a form of self-harm behavior. Case Presentation: We present a patient with episodes of Stretch Syncope who was previously studied and treated for possible epilepsy without any success. The patient is found to have several risk factors for both Stretch Syncope as well as for self-harm behavior, and admits the episodes to be self-provoque but denied intention to commit suicide. Being the Stretch Syncope the mean in this patient to substaint non-suicidal self-harm behavior. Results and Conclusions: The patient had several risk factors for his self-harming behavior, the means for him to engage in such was the Stretch Syncope, which the patient learned to self-provoque. Interventions as familiar education, cognitive behavioral ttherapy, and medications were implemented with remission of the episodes. Further studies necessary for a possible prevalent prevalence of stretch syncope as a form of self-harm.