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Body Integrity Identity Disorder and Gender Dysphoria: A Pilot Study to Investigate Similarities and Differences

Received: 23 October 2014     Accepted: 31 October 2014     Published: 17 November 2014
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Abstract

Objective: Body Integrity Identity Disorder (BIID) describes a phenomenon in which physically healthy people feel the constant desire for an impairment of their body. M. First [4] suggested to classify BIID as an identity disorder. The other main disorder in this respect is Gender Dysphoria. In this paper these phenomena are compared. Method: A questionnaire survey with transsexuals (number of subjects, N=19) and BIID sufferers (N=24) measuring similarities and differences. Age and educational level of the subjects are predominantly matched. Results: No differences were found between BIID and Gender Dysphoria with respect to body image and body perception (U-test: p-value=.757), age of onset (p=.841), the imitation of the desired identity (p=.699 and p=.938), the etiology (p=.299) and intensity of desire (p=.989 and p=.224) as well as in relation to a high level of suffering and impaired quality of life (p=.066). Conclusion: There are many similarities between BIID and Gender Dysphoria, but the sample was too small to make general statements. The results, however, indicate that BIID can actually be classified as an identity disorder.

Published in American Journal of Applied Psychology (Volume 3, Issue 6)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajap.20140306.14
Page(s) 138-143
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2014. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Body Integrity Identity Disorder, BIID, Xenomelia, Amputation, Gender Dysphoria, Transsexualism, Identity, Gender Identity Disorder, Identity Disorder

References
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[2] Blanke, O., Morgenthaler, F. D., Brugger, P. & Overney, L. S. (2008). Preliminary evidence for a fronto-parietal dysfunction in able bodied participants with a desire for limb amputation. Journal of Neuropsychology, 124, 1-13.
[3] Dua, A. (2010). Apotemnophilia: ethical considerations of amputating a healthy limb. J Med Ethics, 36, 75-78.
[4] First, M. (2005). Desire for amputation of a limb: paraphilia, psychosis, or a new type of identity disorder. Psychological Medicine, 35, 919-928.
[5] First, M. & Fisher, C. (2012). Body Integrity Identity Disorder: The Persistent Desire to Acquire a Physical Diability. Psychopathology, 45, 3-14.
[6] Haupt, H.-J. (2012). "Sie sind ihr Gehirn – Transsexualität im Spannungsfeld von Neurowissenschaft und Transphobie"– Lecture presented on Trans*Identitäten, Wien. Access on 28.02.2014. Available in http://www.trans-evidence.com/Neuro_Transphobie.pdf
[7] Hilti, L. M. & Brugger, P. (2010). Incarnation and animation: physical versus representational deficits of body integrity. Exp Brain Res, 204, 315-326.
[8] Kasten, E. (2009). Body Integrity Identity Disorder (BIID): Befragung von Betroffenen und Erklärungsansätze. Fortschr Neurol Psychiat, 77, 16-24.
[9] Kasten, E. (2012). Body Integrity Identity Disorder – Körperidentität durch erwünschte Behinderung. Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie up2date, 6 (3), 165-176.
[10] Lawrence, A. A. (2006). Clinical and Theoretical Parallels between Desire for Limb Amputation and Gender Identity Disorder. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 35, No. 3, 263-278
[11] Manok, A. (2012). Body Integrity Identity Disorder. Die Zulässigkeit von Amputationen gesunder Gliedmaßen aus rechtlicher Sicht (Vol. 1). Leipzig: Leipziger Universitätsverlag.
[12] Möller, B., Schreier, H. & Romer, G. (2009). Geschlechts¬identitätsstörungen im Kindes- und Jugendalter. Z Sexualforsch, 22, 227-254.
[13] Nieder, T. et al. (2011). Age of Onset and Sexual Orientation in Transsexual Males and Females. J Sex Med, 8, 783-791.
[14] Nieder, T. O. & Richter-Appelt, H. (2009). Parallels and Differences between Gender Identity Disorders (GID) and Body Integrity identity Disorder (BIID) and Implications for Research and Treatment of BIID. In Stirn A., Thiel A. & Oddo S. (Ed.), Body Integrity Identity Disorder: Psychological, Neurobiological, Ethical and Legal Aspects (pp. 133-138). Lengerich: Pabst Science Publishers.
[15] Stirn, A., Thiel, A. & Oddo, S. (2009). Body Integrity Identity Disorder: Psychological, Neurobiological, Ethical and Legal Aspects. Lengerich: Pabst Science Publishers.
[16] Stirn A., Thiel A. & Oddo S. (2010). Body Integrity Identity Disorder (BIID). Störungsbild, Diagnostik, Therapieansätze (Vol. 1). Weinheim, Basel: Beltz Verlag.
[17] Söder, M. (1998). Düsseldorfer Fragebogen zur Transidentität. In: Die Strukturen der Herkunftsfamilien weiblicher Transsexueller und deren Vergleich mit einer Stichprobe von Frauen kongruenter Geschlechtsidentität. Unpublished diploma thesis, Psychologisches Institut der Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf
[18] Thiel, A., Ehni, F. J. F., Oddo, S. & Stirn, A. (2011). Body Integrity Identity Disorder: Erste Erfolge in der Langzeitpsychotherapie. Psychiat Prax, 38, 256-258.
[19] Vetter, B. (2007). Sexualität: Störungen, Abweichungen, Transsexualität (Vol. 1). Stuttgart, New York: Schattauer Verlag.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Antonia Ostgathe, Thomas Schnell, Erich Kasten. (2014). Body Integrity Identity Disorder and Gender Dysphoria: A Pilot Study to Investigate Similarities and Differences. American Journal of Applied Psychology, 3(6), 138-143. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20140306.14

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    ACS Style

    Antonia Ostgathe; Thomas Schnell; Erich Kasten. Body Integrity Identity Disorder and Gender Dysphoria: A Pilot Study to Investigate Similarities and Differences. Am. J. Appl. Psychol. 2014, 3(6), 138-143. doi: 10.11648/j.ajap.20140306.14

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    AMA Style

    Antonia Ostgathe, Thomas Schnell, Erich Kasten. Body Integrity Identity Disorder and Gender Dysphoria: A Pilot Study to Investigate Similarities and Differences. Am J Appl Psychol. 2014;3(6):138-143. doi: 10.11648/j.ajap.20140306.14

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajap.20140306.14,
      author = {Antonia Ostgathe and Thomas Schnell and Erich Kasten},
      title = {Body Integrity Identity Disorder and Gender Dysphoria: A Pilot Study to Investigate Similarities and Differences},
      journal = {American Journal of Applied Psychology},
      volume = {3},
      number = {6},
      pages = {138-143},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajap.20140306.14},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20140306.14},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajap.20140306.14},
      abstract = {Objective: Body Integrity Identity Disorder (BIID) describes a phenomenon in which physically healthy people feel the constant desire for an impairment of their body. M. First [4] suggested to classify BIID as an identity disorder. The other main disorder in this respect is Gender Dysphoria. In this paper these phenomena are compared. Method: A questionnaire survey with transsexuals (number of subjects, N=19) and BIID sufferers (N=24) measuring similarities and differences. Age and educational level of the subjects are predominantly matched. Results: No differences were found between BIID and Gender Dysphoria with respect to body image and body perception (U-test: p-value=.757), age of onset (p=.841), the imitation of the desired identity (p=.699 and p=.938), the etiology (p=.299) and intensity of desire (p=.989 and p=.224) as well as in relation to a high level of suffering and impaired quality of life (p=.066). Conclusion: There are many similarities between BIID and Gender Dysphoria, but the sample was too small to make general statements. The results, however, indicate that BIID can actually be classified as an identity disorder.},
     year = {2014}
    }
    

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    T1  - Body Integrity Identity Disorder and Gender Dysphoria: A Pilot Study to Investigate Similarities and Differences
    AU  - Antonia Ostgathe
    AU  - Thomas Schnell
    AU  - Erich Kasten
    Y1  - 2014/11/17
    PY  - 2014
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20140306.14
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajap.20140306.14
    T2  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
    JF  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
    JO  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
    SP  - 138
    EP  - 143
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-5672
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20140306.14
    AB  - Objective: Body Integrity Identity Disorder (BIID) describes a phenomenon in which physically healthy people feel the constant desire for an impairment of their body. M. First [4] suggested to classify BIID as an identity disorder. The other main disorder in this respect is Gender Dysphoria. In this paper these phenomena are compared. Method: A questionnaire survey with transsexuals (number of subjects, N=19) and BIID sufferers (N=24) measuring similarities and differences. Age and educational level of the subjects are predominantly matched. Results: No differences were found between BIID and Gender Dysphoria with respect to body image and body perception (U-test: p-value=.757), age of onset (p=.841), the imitation of the desired identity (p=.699 and p=.938), the etiology (p=.299) and intensity of desire (p=.989 and p=.224) as well as in relation to a high level of suffering and impaired quality of life (p=.066). Conclusion: There are many similarities between BIID and Gender Dysphoria, but the sample was too small to make general statements. The results, however, indicate that BIID can actually be classified as an identity disorder.
    VL  - 3
    IS  - 6
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • MSH Medical School Hamburg, University of Applied Sciences and Medical University, Am Kaiserkai 1, D-20457 Hamburg, Germany

  • MSH Medical School Hamburg, University of Applied Sciences and Medical University, Am Kaiserkai 1, D-20457 Hamburg, Germany

  • MSH Medical School Hamburg, University of Applied Sciences and Medical University, Am Kaiserkai 1, D-20457 Hamburg, Germany

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