10 Strangest Mental Disorders

A mental health disorder, also referred to as a mental illness or a psychiatric disorder, is an umbrella term for a behavioural or mental pattern that causes an impairment of personal functioning. A mental health disorder can be anything from eating disorders, personality disorders, substance-related disorders to cognitive and development disorders. A disorder may be persistent, relapsing or occurring in a singular episode.

With that being said, there are many mental health illnesses out there, some we are more knowledgeable about than others, so without further ado - Here are some of the strangest yet terrifying mental health disorders out there.

1. Cotard's Syndrome

Cotard's Syndrome, also known as Walking Corpse Syndrome is a rare disorder of the brain in which sufferers hold the delusion that they are missing internal organs, blood, body parts and sometimes claiming they are missing their soul or they are simply dead.

This mental disorder was first described in 1882 by neurologist Jules Cotard, which he described the condition as “Le délire des negations '' or “ The Delirium of Negation”. He also described the severity of the disorder and the characteristics, a mild case being characterised by despair and self-loathing whilst a very severe case of the disorder being characterised by intense delusions and depression.

2. Boanthropy

Boanthropy is a very rare but very interesting psychological disorder where the sufferer believes they are a a cow or ox. Those who suffer from this disorder often go as far as to behave as the animal, sometimes seen in fields with cows on all fours and chewing grass as though they are a member of the herd. Those with Boanthropy do not seem to realise what they are doing at all whilst they are acting like the animal and is thought this mental disorder is brought upon by dreams, desires and even hypnotism.

What is interesting is that Boanthropy could be referenced in the bible as the king Nebuchadnezzar is described as being “driven from men and did eat grass as oxen.”

3. Clinical Lycanthropy.

Just like Boanthropy, those who suffer from Clinical Lycanthropy also believe they have they ability to turn into animals, the most common animals are wolves and werewolves although other animals are included. Along with the belief that they can become wolves, people suffering with Clincial Lycathropy also begin to act like the animal and are often found living or hiding in forests and other wooden areas assoicated with the animal.

4. Genital Retraction Syndrome

Mostly seen in Southeast Asian and Chinese men, Genital Retraction Syndrome, also known as "Koro" is a psychiatric disorder. A patient of this disorder may suddenly grasp at his penis, often in fear it will retract into his abdomen, disappear which will ultimately cause his death. It is believed this disorder is caused by psycho-sexual conflicts as well as cultural beliefs.

5. Apotemnophilia

Commonly known as Body Integrity Disorder or Amputee Identity Disorder, Apotemnophila is a neurological disorder of the brain characterised by the overwhelming desire to amputate or damage a healthy part of the body. Whilst there isn't much known about the causes of this disorder, it is believed to be associated with damage to the right parietal lobe of the brain.

Those suffering from this disorder often feel forced into amputating their own body parts if a surgeon refuses to amputate a healthy limb on request, which of course is a very dangerous scenario which ultimately dangerous and fatal consequences.

6. Paris Syndrome

Mostly seen among Japanese travellers, Paris Syndrome is a temporary neurological disorder that causes someone to become completely overwhelmed whist visiting Paris. The disorder is characterised by overwhelming anxiety, hallucinations, derealization and acute delusions. Doctors still have no explanation as to why people suffer this temporary disorder those who experience the disorder do not have a history of any mental health illness, it is believed that it is triggered by language barrier, physical and mental exhaustion and the true reality of Paris as compared to the idealised version of the city.

7. Diogenes Syndrome.

Commonly known as "Hoarding" or Senile Squalor Syndrome and is one of the more misunderstood mental disorders, this syndrome is characterised by the overwhelming desire to collect random objects which an emotional attachment is formed. Those suffering from Diogenes Syndrome usually exhibit signs of extreme self-neglect, social withdrawal, apathy, lack of shame and may also display symptoms of Catatonia. The disorder is common among the elderly, those suffering from Dementia or Alzheimer's disease and people who have been abandoned or have lacked a stable household environment.

8. Pica

Pica is a mental eating disorder associated with pregnancy and nutritional deficiencies, sometimes Pica can be associated with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Those who suffer from this disorder often crave things which have no nutritional valve such as paper, clay, chalk, metal, soil, glass, sand or faeces.

9. Autophagia

Autophagia is a impulse-control disorder, this disorder is characterised by feelings of tension or arousal and then proceed to eat parts of their body, sometimes simply biting or chewing compulsively. The sufferer may feel pleasure or gratification by their actions. In one case, a man began biting at his finger nails but ended up mutilating his own fingers as he couldn't stop himself.

10. Munchausen Syndrome by proxy (MSbP)

Munchausen Syndrome by proxy (MSbP) , also known as Factitious disorder imposed on another (FDIA) is a factitious disorder in which a person repeatedly and deliberately creates the appearance of health problems in another person, usually their own child - in rare cases the person with the illness deliberately acts as though they are physically or mentally sick when they aren't really sick at all. The disorder is considered a mental illness as it is associated with emotional difficulties, one of the most famous cases of this disorder is the story of Gypsy Rose who was a daughter of a women who suffered from Munchausen Syndrome which had serious consequences.