1977/05/01 by John Money, Russell Jobaris, Gregg Furth · 3 citations
Psychology · #Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies #Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders #Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology
paper · doi:10.1080/00224497709550967
openalex publication_date 1977/05/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
The findings in two cases show that self‐demand amputation (apotemnophilia) is related to erotization of the stump and to overachievement despite a handicap. The apotemnophiliac obsession represents an idée fixe rather than a paranoid delusion. It may be conceptually related to, though it is not identical with transsexualism, bisexuality, Münchausen syndrome, and masochism. As with most paraphilias it undoubtedly occurs more frequently, if not exclusively, in men. The two patients related apotemnophilia to recalled experiences of childhood which were necessary but not sufficient for a causal explanation. The precise etiology of the condition is not known, and there is no agreed‐upon method of treatment.