Have you ever wanted to put your hand far enough outside of your car that it might get side-swiped by another car and you'd lose a hand? I didn't think so. In the June 9, 2008 edition of NEWSWEEK (unfortunately, this article is not online), the Periscope section detailed a psychological disorder known as Body-Integrity Identity-Disorder. This is one of the most bizarre psychological disorders that I have ever heard about. Apparently, it is a disorder in which the sufferer believes that they incorrectly got a limb (a hand, a leg, an entire arm) and they do not feel whole because they have this limb. Some psychological experts claim that it is closely related to phantom-limb syndrome, where amputees still feel as if they have that limb.
I found this so interesting. Psychological disorders are on of the most interesting topics one can study. I hope to take a lot of classes in the future on the subject due to cases like this. I really wish I could post a link to this article, but I can't.
All in all, Josh, the sufferer of BIID, took a hand saw to his hand and has never felt bad since. The main question posed in the article is if surgeons should perform amputations on these limbs. It is unethical because there is physically nothing wrong with the limb, but it is safer than having do-it-yourself surgery and since psychological help cannot yet cure the disease, it could be a viable option.
I personally believe that these people should be closely monitored in all aspects of their lives in order to minimize the chances that they will have the opportunity to remove a limb, but I am against the surgery. Even though it could be a short-time cure, who knows whether the disease will get rid of itself eventually? Let me know what you think, I am very interested. To learn more about the disease, go to www.BIID-info.org
I believe there was a guy with this disorder on the Halloween episode of "Grey's Anatomy" this year. The guy took a chainsaw to his foot in the emergency room (probably based on the story in the article).
My feeling is that the first priority regarding these people is that they be should researched, especially with brain imaging software. I have a feeling that there is a neurological link to BIID, even though it is considered a psychological disorder. Phantom limb syndrome is neurological because part of their brain is still mapped to the limb, even though it no longer exists.
As for voluntary amputations, if it has been proven that these people can function better psychologically without the limb, the surgery should be performed. Because, like you said, it's safer that do-it-yourself.
Common sense is as rare as genius. ~Emerson
Colorado November Ballot Measure to Legally Define a Fertilized Egg as a Person
That is really interesting that it was on Grey's Anatomy. I will look that up because this disease really interests me. Thanks a lot man.
Research would be a great first step to this disease. If you can identify someone with the disease and 100% eliminate the chance of making an error about whether or not to perform surgery, than maybe the surgery would be a good idea.
Also, very good observation in realizing the difference between BIID and phantom-limb disorder. Maybe the correlation wasn't so great and the magazine just exaggerated it and put them in the same column.
The episode didn't deal much with the actual disorder, more so with the corrective surgery after he tried to hack of his foot.
My reasoning for agreeing to the amputation is more pragmatic. If they want the surgery, and afterwards the anxiety and repulsion towards the limb is gone and they feel totally fine, then I don't see the point in arguing if no one can find an adequate treatment through therapy or medication.
But research is crucial. The most interesting and fruitful ways to learn about the brain are through examining abnormalities like BIID.
Common sense is as rare as genius. ~Emerson
Colorado November Ballot Measure to Legally Define a Fertilized Egg as a Person
I definitely agree with the surgery as a possible option, depending on certain aspects of the disorder, but if the disorder is still just being learned about by psychiatrists and psychologists, it could be the wrong choice for the present time. Who knows? There could be a possible medicinal cure for the disorder that hasn't been researched yet. Tomorrow I will go to the website and do some research and hopefully post another blog on the subject...
In nharris1032 comment he said that In the "June 9, 2008 edition of NEWSWEEK (unfortunately, this article is not online), the Periscope section detailed a psychological disorder known as Body-Integrity Identity-Disorder." was not on line. I did find the article on line after all. Newsweek magazine that I take had it listed under PERISCOPE column
subtitle PSYCHOLOGY titled "They'd Give Their Right Leg". After reading the on line version and comparing it
to the printed copy I have, I find there are differences might say the on line is more comprehensive.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/138932
Nicely done man. All I found under periscope was a John McCain article when I looked after I wrote the article, so it must have been added after, but Kudos man. Thanks a lot.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/nharris1032
First, I ought to point out that BIID is not new. The first case was reported anecdotally as far back as 1785.
Second, BIID is not only about amputations. While many BIID sufferers require an amputation, others, such as myself, require to be paralysed. Others yet need to be blind, or deaf.
As to closely monitoring us so we don't hurt ourselves... Why not just lock us in a psych ward and throw away the key?
Yes, more research is needed. But until a less invasive solution is found, WE ARE LIVING IN HELL. My experience reflects that of a majority of people I've spoken to over the last decade. Psychotherapy and psychiatry dont' help. Cognitive-Behavioural therapy does nto help. Medications do not help. The only thing that does help is for people to acquire the impairment they need.
Perhaps, just perhaps, tehre will be a less invasive solution found in 5 or ten or 15 years. But I'll be long dead by then. While I am not suicidal, I cannot continue living in this body that is wrong for me.
Will you condemn me to living in hell because you perceive having a physical impairment to be worse than having to deal with the result of a mental illness?
Sean O'Connor
http://transabled.org - Multi author blog about the experience of living with BIID
http://biid-info.org - a resource page for information about BIID
Wow man. I'd love to talk to you more about this. My understanding of the disorder is so minimal.
When I said new, I meant it's new information coming out (at least to me). But if you want to classify it as a psychological disorder (which I agree with) and you claim that you are "living in hell," then a psychiatry building would be the perfect safety zone for you so you don't do something without thinking about it. If you were exagerrating your condition and its not that bad, then you could live at home
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/nharris1032
NHarris,
You know what scares me is that you appear serious when you suggest that we should be locked up in psych wards.
Yes, I am living in hell. No, I am not exagerating. But the thing is, psychiatry cannot help us. It may be a psychological condition, but psychology, psychotherapy, psychatry (nor medication for that matter) are unable to help. This is not just me saying so, it's dozens upon dozens of people who have BIID and who have related their experiences to me. And it is corroborated by the findings of Dr. Michael First, the chief editor of the DSM.
If the goal of instutionlisation is to avoid "hurting ourselves", I can only ask, what is worse: a mental disability that makes you live in hell, or a physical disability?
Why are people so f*** intent on saying that the body's integrity is to be retain before and above all? "Health" is a whole, and cannot be looked at only from the body's point of view.
Sean O'Connor
http://transabled.org - Multi author blog about the experience of living with BIID
http://biid-info.org - a resource page for information about BIID
I'm not demanding that you get institutionalized or anything. But you can live with a psychological disorder. Like actually live. If you botch a DIY surgery, your mind will be OK but you will be dead. What is better there? (I do understand that you don't have BIID in the sense that you want to perform surgery on yourself, I'm just saying).
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/nharris1032