Coming-out in Body Integrity Dysphoria

Maya Berger,

Aglaja Stirn,

Erich Kasten

Created: Aug. 19, 2022

The term body integrity dysphoria (BID) describes a discrepancy between the actual anatomical body constitution and the mentally represented body of a physically impaired person, which is often experienced as chronically dysphoric as well as the resulting desire of the affected person to have a (permanent) physical impairment (amputation, paralysis, etc.) in order to complement their own “true” identity. In the present study, potentially relevant factors influencing the quality of life of BID sufferers in the context of their coming-out process were examined. A questionnaire survey was used to ask BID sufferers (N = 50) about the reactions of their …