When the Body Feels Foreign: A Case of Body Ownership disturbance in Brief Psychotic Disorder

Abstract

Deficits in the sense of self are well-documented in psychotic disorders, but evidence regarding disturbances in body ownership remains inconclusive. This case report presents a rare and severe instance of body ownership disturbance in a young woman, marked by delusions of estrangement from her body, multiple self-harm attempts, social withdrawal, and profound functional decline. Although she received antipsychotic treatment, cultural factors impeded treatment adherence. The case underscores the diagnostic challenges associated with such disturbances and highlights the critical role of social and cultural influences on illness perception and care-seeking behavior. It emphasizes the need for greater clinical awareness of body ownership disturbances in psychotic disorders, further research into their phenomenology, and the development of culturally sensitive interventions to enhance treatment outcomes.