Could Brain-Computer Interface Be a New Therapeutic Approach for Body Integrity Dysphoria?

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Medical Technology

Background:

• Body integrity dysphoria (BID) is a condition where individuals desire disability, often amputation, due to a body-mind mismatch.
• The most common form involves the desire to amputate a healthy limb, which, if performed, often resolves distress and improves quality of life.
• Current treatments like medication, psychotherapy, and vestibular stimulation are largely ineffective for BID.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss the characteristics, etiology, and current treatment limitations of BID.
• To propose novel, theory-driven treatment approaches for BID.
• To explore the potential of brain-computer interface (BCI) and neurofeedback for treating BID.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on BID characteristics, etiology, and treatments.
• Analysis of recent findings on functional and structural brain correlates of BID.
• Hypothesis formulation for BCI/neurofeedback as a therapeutic strategy.

Main Results:

• Established treatments for BID have limited efficacy.
• BID is associated with specific altered patterns of brain activity.
• BCI/neurofeedback offers a potential avenue to target these neural correlates.

Conclusions:

• New therapeutic strategies are urgently needed for BID.
• BCI/neurofeedback may offer a non-invasive approach to re-regulate brain activity in BID.
• Targeting brain correlates could promote limb re-ownership and reduce distress in BID.