[Desire for amputation in body integrity identity disorder].
BACKGROUND
Body integrity identity disorder (BIID) is a rare neuropsychiatric disorder in which patients experience a mismatch between the real and experienced body from childhood. BIID results in a strong desire to amputate or paralyse one or more limbs.


METHODS
We describe two BIID patients. A 40-year-old healthy male suffered daily from his desire for amputation, and therefore made a request for amputation at our academic medical centre. A 61-year-old male proceeded to self-amputation to create the body he had wished for, thereby curing himself from BIID.


CONCLUSIONS
To date, no treatment has been found for BIID. Therefore patients often proceed to self-amputation, which could lead to serious and even dangerous complications. These case histories suggest that elective amputation may be a treatment for BIID. Many doctors, however, will question the admissibility of amputation of a healthy limb.
Academisch Medisch Centrum-Universiteit van Amsterdam, Amsterdam.
Rianne M
RM
Blom
Raoul C M
RC
Hennekam
D000328:Adult; D000674:Amputees / Q000523:psychology*; D001828:Body Image; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000941:ethics* / Q000523:psychology; D005162:Factitious Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D012652:Self Mutilation / Q000523:psychology*