A disturbing case has emerged from Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh, where a 21-year-old man suffering from psychosis hammered a four-inch nail into his own head. Miraculously, doctors at Hallet PGI, Kanpur, managed to remove the nail through a complex surgery, saving his life.

“A Voice Whispered… Then It Started Shouting”

Vijay, the patient, now recovering in the Neuro department, keeps repeating a chilling account:

“Someone kept whispering in my ear—put a nail in your head. When I didn’t listen, the voice started shouting. So I did it.”

This strange compulsion is a classic symptom of psychosis, a mental disorder where patients lose touch with reality. Doctors believe drug addiction and neurochemical imbalances are responsible in Vijay’s case.

Nail Pierced Deep Into Brain Layers

Dr. Manish Singh, head of the Neuro department, led the surgery. He explained that the nail had pierced all three protective layers of the brain—the dura, arachnoid, and pia mater, and was dangerously close to vital nerves.

“We had to use a drill machine to cut part of the skull and carefully extract the nail. It was one of the riskiest surgeries we’ve done,” said Dr. Singh.

Psychosis Misunderstood in Rural Areas

Dr. Dhananjay Chaudhary, a psychiatrist from GSVM Medical College, explained:

“Psychosis can result from excessive drug use, alcohol abuse, sleep deprivation, or stress. In rural areas, it’s often misunderstood as ghostly possession or witchcraft.”

He added that such patients may suffer delusions, hallucinations, and hear imaginary voices, which leads to unpredictable behavior.

Family Unaware Until Seizures Began

Shockingly, Vijay didn’t inform anyone about the self-inflicted injury. It was only when he started experiencing epileptic seizures that his family rushed him to the hospital. His father, Ghure, shared:

“He had returned from Delhi two and a half months ago after becoming addicted to drugs. We had no idea he was hearing voices.”

Both Ghure and his younger son work as labourers in Bengaluru, while Vijay had been staying alone in Fatehpur.