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Xenomelia and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Similarities and Differences

Received: 30 May 2015     Accepted: 15 June 2015     Published: 6 July 2015
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Abstract

Theoretical background: Xenomelia, also known as Body Integrity Identity Disorder (BIID), is a mental disorder that is characterized by a strong desire to lose one or more limbs, or a functional area of the body. There is still no consensus, where the boundaries of the definition should be set and how BIID can be classified. The scientific community is currently debating whether Xenomelia could be a sub-type of obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD). Objective: The primary goal of this research was to improve the knowledge about similarities and differences between Xenomelia and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Method: Using the HZI-K (Hamburg Compulsive Inventory, short form), a questionnaire for collecting non-specific compulsive behavior, as well as the BIID screening for severity and intensity of this disorder, the compulsiveness of 33 Xenomelia affected participants was captured with an online survey and evaluated. The evaluation was based on the standard values of the HZI-K. Results: The test results of the 33 Xenomelia affected participants differ from the norms of the calibration sample of the HZI-K on the scales A (repetition controlling, as well as obsessive thoughts after controlling compulsions), D (counting-constrains, compulsions concerning touch, and speech), E (obsessive thoughts ) and F (compulsive images to hurt oneself or others). Conclusion: It can be assumed that BIID sufferers have compulsive tendencies in terms of control, action and thought constraints.

Published in American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience (Volume 3, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajpn.20150304.12
Page(s) 63-69
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), 2015. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Body Integrity Identity Disorder, BIID, Apotemnophilia, Amputee Identity Disorder, Xenomelia, OCD, Obsessive -Compulsive Disorder

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Sabrina Link, Erich Kasten. (2015). Xenomelia and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Similarities and Differences. American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, 3(4), 63-69. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpn.20150304.12

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    ACS Style

    Sabrina Link; Erich Kasten. Xenomelia and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Similarities and Differences. Am. J. Psychiatry Neurosci. 2015, 3(4), 63-69. doi: 10.11648/j.ajpn.20150304.12

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    AMA Style

    Sabrina Link, Erich Kasten. Xenomelia and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Similarities and Differences. Am J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2015;3(4):63-69. doi: 10.11648/j.ajpn.20150304.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajpn.20150304.12,
      author = {Sabrina Link and Erich Kasten},
      title = {Xenomelia and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Similarities and Differences},
      journal = {American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience},
      volume = {3},
      number = {4},
      pages = {63-69},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajpn.20150304.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpn.20150304.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajpn.20150304.12},
      abstract = {Theoretical background: Xenomelia, also known as Body Integrity Identity Disorder (BIID), is a mental disorder that is characterized by a strong desire to lose one or more limbs, or a functional area of the body. There is still no consensus, where the boundaries of the definition should be set and how BIID can be classified. The scientific community is currently debating whether Xenomelia could be a sub-type of obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD). Objective: The primary goal of this research was to improve the knowledge about similarities and differences between Xenomelia and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Method: Using the HZI-K (Hamburg Compulsive Inventory, short form), a questionnaire for collecting non-specific compulsive behavior, as well as the BIID screening for severity and intensity of this disorder, the compulsiveness of 33 Xenomelia affected participants was captured with an online survey and evaluated. The evaluation was based on the standard values of the HZI-K. Results: The test results of the 33 Xenomelia affected participants differ from the norms of the calibration sample of the HZI-K on the scales A (repetition controlling, as well as obsessive thoughts after controlling compulsions), D (counting-constrains, compulsions concerning touch, and speech), E (obsessive thoughts ) and F (compulsive images to hurt oneself or others). Conclusion: It can be assumed that BIID sufferers have compulsive tendencies in terms of control, action and thought constraints.},
     year = {2015}
    }
    

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    T1  - Xenomelia and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Similarities and Differences
    AU  - Sabrina Link
    AU  - Erich Kasten
    Y1  - 2015/07/06
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    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpn.20150304.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajpn.20150304.12
    T2  - American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
    JF  - American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
    JO  - American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
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    AB  - Theoretical background: Xenomelia, also known as Body Integrity Identity Disorder (BIID), is a mental disorder that is characterized by a strong desire to lose one or more limbs, or a functional area of the body. There is still no consensus, where the boundaries of the definition should be set and how BIID can be classified. The scientific community is currently debating whether Xenomelia could be a sub-type of obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD). Objective: The primary goal of this research was to improve the knowledge about similarities and differences between Xenomelia and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Method: Using the HZI-K (Hamburg Compulsive Inventory, short form), a questionnaire for collecting non-specific compulsive behavior, as well as the BIID screening for severity and intensity of this disorder, the compulsiveness of 33 Xenomelia affected participants was captured with an online survey and evaluated. The evaluation was based on the standard values of the HZI-K. Results: The test results of the 33 Xenomelia affected participants differ from the norms of the calibration sample of the HZI-K on the scales A (repetition controlling, as well as obsessive thoughts after controlling compulsions), D (counting-constrains, compulsions concerning touch, and speech), E (obsessive thoughts ) and F (compulsive images to hurt oneself or others). Conclusion: It can be assumed that BIID sufferers have compulsive tendencies in terms of control, action and thought constraints.
    VL  - 3
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Medical School Hamburg, University of Applied Sciences, Hamburg, Germany

  • Dept. of Neuropsychology, Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

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