Abstract
Objective: Body Integrity Identity Disorder (BIID) describes a phenomenon in which physically healthy people feel the constant desire for an impairment of their body. M. First [4] suggested to classify BIID as an identity disorder. The other main disorder in this respect is Gender Dysphoria. In this paper these phenomena are compared. Method: A questionnaire survey with transsexuals (number of subjects, N=19) and BIID sufferers (N=24) measuring similarities and differences. Age and educational level of the subjects are predominantly matched. Results: No differences were found between BIID and Gender Dysphoria with respect to body image and body perception (U-test: p-value=.757), age of onset (p=.841), the imitation of the desired identity (p=.699 and p=.938), the etiology (p=.299) and intensity of desire (p=.989 and p=.224) as well as in relation to a high level of suffering and impaired quality of life (p=.066). Conclusion: There are many similarities between BIID and Gender Dysphoria, but the sample was too small to make general statements. The results, however, indicate that BIID can actually be classified as an identity disorder.
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