Apotemnophilia

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Apotemnophilia is the erotic interest in being or looking like an amputee.[1][2] It should not be confused with acrotomophilia, which is the erotic interest in people who are amputees.[3] When experienced very strongly, some people with apotemnophilia come to feel discontented with their bodies and want to actually remove an otherwise healthy limb, a condition called Body Integrity Identity Disorder. Some apotemnophiles seek surgeons to perform an amputation or purposefully injure a limb in order to force emergency medical amputation.[4][5]

[edit] Research Studies

Among a convenience sample of 52 apotemnophiles recruited from internet groups, the great majority wanted a single leg removed, cut above the knee.[6] There are parallels between apotemnophilia as a motivation for Body Integrity Identity Disorder and autogynephilia as a motivation for some cases of male-to-female Gender Identity Disorder.[7]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Money, J., Jobaris, R., & Furth, G. (1977). Apotemnophilia: Two cases of self demand amputation as a sexual preference. The Journal of Sex Research, 13, 115–124.
  2. ^ Everaerd, W. (1983). A case of apotemnophilia: A handicap as sexual preference. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 37, 285–293.
  3. ^ Dixon, D. (1983). An erotic attraction to amputees. Sexuality and Disability, 6, 3–19.
  4. ^ Bensler, J. M., & Paauw, D. S. (2003). Apotemnophilia masquerading as medical morbidity. Southern Medical Journal, 96, 674–676.
  5. ^ Berger, B. D., Lehrmann, J. A., Larson, G., Alverno, L., & Tsao, C. I. (2005). Nonpsychotic, nonparaphilic self-amputation and the internet. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 46, 380–383.
  6. ^ First, M. B. (2005). Desire for amputation of a limb: Paraphilia, psychosis, or a new type of identity disorder. Psychological Medicine, 35, 919–928.
  7. ^ Lawrence, A. A. (2006). Clinical and theoretical parallels between desire for limb amputation and gender identity disorder. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 35, 263–278.