Autophagia

[LuisP]

Autophagia Is the act of eating parts of one's own body.

Cases of self-cannibalism among Humans are very rare and have only been documented a number of times in the psychological and psychiatric literature.

But exist.

Dr Friedemann Pfafflin, a forensic psychotherapist at Ulm University, in Germany, asserts
- “apart from acts of cannibalism arising from situations of extreme necessity…the cannibalistic deeds of individuals are always an expression of severe psychopathology”.

Autophagia is not classified as a mental disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the diagnostic manual used in the United States.

However, Autophagia could be classified under the DSM's “Impulse-Control Disorders Not Elsewhere Classified”.

Impulse-Control Disorders

Are characterized by five behavioral stages :
(a) an impulse,
(b) growing tension,
(c) pleasure on acting,
(d) relief from the urge
(e) and finally guilt ((which may or may not arise).

- It Involves failing to resist an impulse, drive, or temptation to perform an act that is harmful to the person or to others.
- The majority of individuals will often feel a sense of tension or arousal before committing the act, and then experience pleasure, gratification or relief at the time of committing the act.
- Once the act has been completed, the individual may or may not feel regret, self-reproach, or guilt.


Credits :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autophagia
http://drmarkgriffiths.wordpress.com/20 ... arcophagy/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impulse_control_disorder

[re-rose]

- It Involves failing to resist an impulse, drive, or temptation to perform an act that is harmful to the person or to others.
- The majority of individuals will often feel a sense of tension or arousal before committing the act, and then experience pleasure, gratification or relief at the time of committing the act.

It has to do with neurotransmitters...serotonin is needed and a release of the requiste amount must somehow be triggered, even if in holistically unhealthy ways. At least, that would be my medical hypothesis.

rose

[StarCat]

Serotonin and probably endorphins too.

Cat

[TheTraveler]

WOW.. I'm sure a chatty Kathy today.

Yikes, this thread could easily lead to the dark side!!!

[Mikado14]

The topics that arise. I think I will bow out and let this one stay red on my index.

[LuisP]

So, "seratonin" and "endorphins".

Like, a daily "pill" of those might cure it ? Damn, might want to say so to some people.

For it might save a lot of "autophagiaing" going on in some places.