<p>Several studies discuss the damaged <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_schema" rel="nofollow">body schema</a> of amputees and people suffering from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complex_regional_pain_syndrome" rel="nofollow">CRPS</a>.
By damaged <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1350799/" rel="nofollow">body schema</a> I mean where the body their mind constructs doesn't match up with the body that is objectively there. Ie. limbs perceived as there or not there despite evidence, <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18625661" rel="nofollow">CRPS</a>, extension/contraction of perceived limbs differing from reality.</p>

<p>The types of damage I'm most interested in are pain resulting or allegedly resulting from a disruption of the body schema itself such as <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/vilayanur_ramachandran_on_your_mind.html" rel="nofollow">phantom limb pain</a>, <a href="http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/127/2/243.short" rel="nofollow">autoscopy/out-of-body experiences</a> and <a href="http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/130/10/2671" rel="nofollow">CRPS</a>. Phantom limb sensation also interests me. Mostly, <strong>the important distinction I wish to draw is healing through the power of one's own volition or through the help of others, as diametrically opposed as I can get it.</strong></p>

<p><strong>What is the relative effectiveness of self-initiated versus therapy provided by others in repairing a damaged body schema?</strong></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-26T07:42:57.600Z
(1) Could you clarify what you mean by damaged body schema? What types of damage are you interested in? (2) Would you be able to add a couple of the references to the studies that you've read to make the question more useful for others?
Jeromy Anglim
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-04T12:08:37.000Z
I think that's clearer. cheers.
Jeromy Anglim
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-21T08:24:16.737Z
I'm enjoying the subtext in the bounty box: "The question is widely applicable to a large audience...Quite a niche question, sure..." Just poking fun, but I do agree! It is quite a niche question, but it is still a large enough niche to be well worthwhile. :) Good luck though! Anyone aware of research (or even anyone with enough personal experience to weigh in authoritatively) on this specific subtopic would definitely deserve the bounty.
Nick Stauner
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-21T15:53:16.877Z
@NickStauner haha! I hadn't even put those two together, you're right. Agreed! I've not got much rep here, but there's at least enough to throw at this question. I'm still very interested in an answer and this is the *only* SE question I've ever asked that didn't get *any* replies.
LitheOhm
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-21T22:05:37.743Z
I see we're not the only ones who find it interesting, so you might just get an answer sooner or later. However, I wish you luck because I fear it might be needed. The niche is large enough, but small compared to many others, both in terms of the disorder and in terms of the therapeutic issue in question. Combining both the damaged body schema and self-vs.-other-initiated therapeutic contexts makes this a likely candidate for truly original research; I worry it hasn't been done yet. I do hope I'm wrong though! In the meantime, would more general research on the therapeutic issue interest you?
Nick Stauner
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-22T02:58:20.930Z
Didn't see it; sounds promising! BTW, I suspect the mirror box method doesn't relate much to "the important distinction I wish to draw." However, if any research exists on a moderator of that method's effectiveness such as, "`Patient personally initiates or adheres to mirror box therapy regimen` vs. `Therapist recommends patient to, or guides patient in mirror box therapy`," that would seem to be exactly on-topic as far as I understand the topic! I'm just guessing at what the OP will say here though; I don't mean to put words in his mouth!
Nick Stauner
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-22T04:00:45.987Z
@caseyr547 awesome link! Didn't know House covered that one. I am familiar with Ramachandran actually. It's hard not to find something by him when researching phantom limb sensation/pain. The mirror box is very fascinating and definitely outlines the core of body schema problems (proprioceptive sense, etc.). If you can find sources highlighting individual tasks (using alone, no need for 'pro' advice) versus physician-guided it would be within the scope I'm aiming for.
LitheOhm
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-22T04:06:08.690Z
@NickStauner Ramachandran is definitely the who's who in phantom limbs, at least that's the impression I got from my research project (especially this [Ted Talks](http://youtu.be/Rl2LwnaUA-k) video). It's part of what sparked this question; If the mirror neuron effect exists within us, then is it **necessary** (I won't touch the *advisable* part) to depend on others for care.
LitheOhm
<reference-request><abnormal-psychology><motor>
What is the relative effectiveness of self initiated versus therapy approaches to repairing damaged body schema?
LitheOhm
# What is the relative effectiveness of self initiated versus therapy approaches to repairing damaged body schema?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-03-26)

Several studies discuss the damaged [body schema](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_schema) of amputees and people suffering from [CRPS](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complex_regional_pain_syndrome).
By damaged [body schema](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1350799/) I mean where the body their mind constructs doesn't match up with the body that is objectively there. Ie. limbs perceived as there or not there despite evidence, [CRPS](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18625661), extension/contraction of perceived limbs differing from reality.

The types of damage I'm most interested in are pain resulting or allegedly resulting from a disruption of the body schema itself such as [phantom limb pain](http://www.ted.com/talks/vilayanur_ramachandran_on_your_mind.html), [autoscopy/out-of-body experiences](http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/127/2/243.short) and [CRPS](http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/130/10/2671). Phantom limb sensation also interests me. Mostly, **the important distinction I wish to draw is healing through the power of one's own volition or through the help of others, as diametrically opposed as I can get it.**

**What is the relative effectiveness of self-initiated versus therapy provided by others in repairing a damaged body schema?**

**Tags:** reference-request, abnormal-psychology, motor

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: (1) Could you clarify what you mean by damaged body schema? What types of damage are you interested in? (2) Would you be able to add a couple of the references to the studies that you've read to make the question more useful for others?  
> **username_1**: I think that's clearer. cheers.  
> **username_2**: I'm enjoying the subtext in the bounty box: "The question is widely applicable to a large audience...Quite a niche question, sure..." Just poking fun, but I do agree! It is quite a niche question, but it is still a large enough niche to be well worthwhile. :) Good luck though! Anyone aware of research (or even anyone with enough personal experience to weigh in authoritatively) on this specific subtopic would definitely deserve the bounty.  
> **username_0**: @NickStauner haha! I hadn't even put those two together, you're right. Agreed! I've not got much rep here, but there's at least enough to throw at this question. I'm still very interested in an answer and this is the *only* SE question I've ever asked that didn't get *any* replies.  
> **username_2**: I see we're not the only ones who find it interesting, so you might just get an answer sooner or later. However, I wish you luck because I fear it might be needed. The niche is large enough, but small compared to many others, both in terms of the disorder and in terms of the therapeutic issue in question. Combining both the damaged body schema and self-vs.-other-initiated therapeutic contexts makes this a likely candidate for truly original research; I worry it hasn't been done yet. I do hope I'm wrong though! In the meantime, would more general research on the therapeutic issue interest you?  
> **username_2**: Didn't see it; sounds promising! BTW, I suspect the mirror box method doesn't relate much to "the important distinction I wish to draw." However, if any research exists on a moderator of that method's effectiveness such as, "`Patient personally initiates or adheres to mirror box therapy regimen` vs. `Therapist recommends patient to, or guides patient in mirror box therapy`," that would seem to be exactly on-topic as far as I understand the topic! I'm just guessing at what the OP will say here though; I don't mean to put words in his mouth!  
> **username_0**: @caseyr547 awesome link! Didn't know House covered that one. I am familiar with Ramachandran actually. It's hard not to find something by him when researching phantom limb sensation/pain. The mirror box is very fascinating and definitely outlines the core of body schema problems (proprioceptive sense, etc.). If you can find sources highlighting individual tasks (using alone, no need for 'pro' advice) versus physician-guided it would be within the scope I'm aiming for.  
> **username_0**: @NickStauner Ramachandran is definitely the who's who in phantom limbs, at least that's the impression I got from my research project (especially this [Ted Talks](http://youtu.be/Rl2LwnaUA-k) video). It's part of what sparked this question; If the mirror neuron effect exists within us, then is it **necessary** (I won't touch the *advisable* part) to depend on others for care.  

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## 0 answers

