Is the desire for amputation related to disturbed emotion processing? A multiple case study analysis in BIID

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Psychology

Background:

• Body Integrity Identity Disorder (BIID) involves an overwhelming desire for amputation or paralysis.
• Neurological explanations, including insular cortex anomalies, are proposed for BIID.
• Emotional processing in BIID remains underexplored, with potential psychiatric links.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate facial emotion recognition and disgust responses in individuals with BIID.
• To explore the role of insular functioning in the emotional processing of BIID.
• To examine potential psychiatric versus neurological underpinnings of BIID.

Main Methods:

• A computerized experiment was used to assess seven individuals with BIID.
• Facial emotion recognition and responses to disgusting images were evaluated.
• Detailed analysis of disgust processing linked to insular functioning was conducted.

Main Results:

• BIID is not associated with general emotional deficits.
• A selective reduction in disgust response was observed for violations of the body envelope.
• Findings suggest specific emotional processing alterations in BIID.

Conclusions:

• The study supports an interdisciplinary approach to understanding BIID.
• Emotional processing, particularly disgust related to body integrity, is a key area for BIID research.
• Social modulation of body representation and emotional connotations warrant further investigation.