A CASE OF UNRELENTING PURSUIT OF CASTRATION

Objective: Explore the limitations of the classification of body dysmo rphic disorder. Clinical picture: A Chinese male relentlessly pursued castration to relieve painful erections which were never substantiated , The testes and corpora spongiosum had been removed, No psychotic sym ptom was prominent. Treatment: Cognitive therapy and psychotropics wer e tried. Outcome: The remaining corpora cavernosa was removed subseque ntly. Conclusion: The distorted somatic perception and secondary cogni tive amplification (painful erections) could represent a variant of bo dy dysmorphic disorder involving internal body image; diagnostic class ifications should accommodate such a category.