Sometimes, self-mutilation is a component of a more sever disorder. In that case, professional help (and possibly hospitalization) is needed. Medical research has divided self-mutilating behaviors into three broad types: Typical self-inflicted violence, Psychotic self-inflicted violence, (which occurs because the person is out of touch with reality) and Psychotic self-inflicted violence, (which occurs because the person suffers from brain damage or mental retardation).