Somatoparaphrenia
Encyclopedia
Somatoparaphrenia is a type of monothematic delusion
where one denies ownership of a limb or an entire side of one's body. As an example, a patient would believe that her or his own arm would belong to the doctor, or that another patient left it behind.
3 lbs
, a veteran who has suffered a stroke claims his left arm belongs to another soldier, who died. On the show, the condition is diagnosed as anosognosia
, denial of one's sickness.
In the fifth episode of the fourth season of Grey's anatomy
, a man suffering from somatoparaphrenia, misdiagnosed as body dysmorphic disorder
, wants the doctors to amputate his foot because it does not belong to him.
Monothematic delusion
A monothematic delusion is a delusional state that only concerns one particular topic. This is contrasted by what is sometimes called multi-thematic or polythematic delusions where the person has a range of delusions...
where one denies ownership of a limb or an entire side of one's body. As an example, a patient would believe that her or his own arm would belong to the doctor, or that another patient left it behind.
Somatoparaphrenia in popular culture
In the fourth episode of the first (and only) season of the short-lived medical dramaMedical drama
A medical drama is a television program, in which events center upon a hospital, an ambulance staff, or any medical environment.In the United States, most medical episodes are one hour long and, more often than not, are set in a hospital. Most current medical Dramatic programming go beyond the...
3 lbs
3 lbs
3 lbs is a drama that aired on CBS from November 14 to 28, 2006, replacing the cancelled series Smith. The show itself was then canceled three weeks later due to poor ratings....
, a veteran who has suffered a stroke claims his left arm belongs to another soldier, who died. On the show, the condition is diagnosed as anosognosia
Anosognosia
Anosognosia /æˌnɒsɒgˈnəʊsɪə/ is a condition in which a person who suffers disability seems unaware of the existence of his or her disability. Unlike denial, which is a defense mechanism, anosognosia is rooted in physiology...
, denial of one's sickness.
In the fifth episode of the fourth season of Grey's anatomy
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...
, a man suffering from somatoparaphrenia, misdiagnosed as body dysmorphic disorder
Body dysmorphic disorder
Body Dysmorphic Disorder is a type of mental illness, a somatoform disorder, wherein the affected person is exclusively concerned with body image, manifested as excessive concern about and preoccupation with a perceived defect of his or her physical features...
, wants the doctors to amputate his foot because it does not belong to him.