Abstract
Abstract: Somatosensory hallucinations occur not only in psychosis or under the influence of drugs. Therefore, we implemented a survey to investigate changes in body perception in a random sample of users in different German internet forums.
Methods: Using an internet-based questionnaire, 680 mostly young subjects were asked about changes in body perception. Items addressed sensory hallucinations, affected body parts, frequency and perceived cause of such experiences. In addition, some questions assessed symptoms of identity disorders (e.g. Body Identity Integrity Disorder, Gender Identity Disorder). Two items were included twice in a slightly changed format in order to test reliability.
Results: Out of 680 questionnaires 422 (62%) were included in the analysis. All participants reported a body-referred change in perception at least once in their life and about 90% reportedly experienced more than one such change in body perception. The sensation that a part of the body was heavier (47.1%), lighter (34.5%), larger (31.4%), smaller (16.5%), levitating (26.9%), was tingling and pricking (84.5%), not belonging to one's own body (20.5%) or leaving the body (15.7%) were reported. 6.4% of respondents experienced changes in the identification with their own body. Women reported significantly more body perception changes than men.
Conclusions: There exist multiple changes in body perception, presumably brought on by stress, meditation, or exercise. Women seem to be more sensitive with respect to the perception of their own body compared to men.
Keywords
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