Most people are well aware of anxiety disorders, depression, or even bipolar disorder. Yet, there are many rare mental disorders that affect a tiny percentage of individuals that people have never heard of. Just like other mental health conditions, these rare mental disorders are treatable using evidence-based and holistic therapeutic modalities.
9 Rare Mental Disorders
It can be challenging to find information on rare mental disorders since they are not that common and only affect a small number of people. These conditionals can have some strange symptoms and behaviors that could seem odd when compared to other conditions. However, these rare disorders are real and do affect some individuals.
1. Histrionic Personality Disorder
Histrionic personality disorder (HPD) is a condition where individuals act overly dramatic and can be erratic to gain the attention and approval of others. They are also worried about their physical appearance and come across as being self-centered. People with HPD can also be very manipulative, which often impacts their relationships. Other common symptoms include:
- Lack of caring for others
- Lacks any sincerity
- Highly sensitive to criticism and disapproval
- Inappropriate flirtatious behavior
2. Dissociative Identity Disorder
Dissociative identity disorder (DID) used to be called multiple personality disorder. It is where a person has at least two, but possibly more, identities. Each identity has its own history, likes, dislikes, and perception of self. DID usually occurs as a result of exposure to a traumatic event or childhood neglect and abuse. Some common symptoms include:
- Blackouts
- Memory gaps/loss of memory
- Out-of-body experiences
- Detachment from one’s emotions, behaviors, and actions
- No sense of identity
- Having another co-occurring mental health disorder
3. Capgras Syndrome
This rare mental disorder is when a person has an irrational fear that an imposter has replaced someone they know. They believe their friend or family member is no longer the same person they used to know. This condition can develop in people with dementia or Alzheimer’s, as well as those with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.
4. Alien Hand Syndrome
Alien hand syndrome is a condition in which the individual believes one or both hands act independently and have a mind of their own. The hands appear to move purposefully but are actually moving involuntarily.
Some individuals will also believe their hands want to injure or kill them or others. This strange mental disorder is linked to traumatic brain injuries where the right parietal lobe has been damaged, as well as “communication” problems with that area of the brain.
5. Apetomnophilia
Apetomnophilia, or body integrity identity disorder, is not formally recognized in the DSM-5 but is listed in ICD-11. It is a type of neurological disorder where the person has a strong desire to remove a healthy body part surgically, such as a finger, hand, foot, arm, or leg. They believe they will feel fulfilled and complete by removing the undesired body parts.
Individuals with this condition will go to extraordinary lengths to remove the unwanted body parts themselves. They might use a chainsaw, crush their leg under concrete, or slam their hand in a door.
6. Autocannabalism
Autocannibalism is where a person eats part of themselves. This form of self-cannibalism can include:
- Nail biting
- Chewing on skin
- Remove and eating one’s skin
- Eating scabs from healing wounds
- Eating one’s bodily fluids and fecal matter
- Eating hair
- Eating boogers
7. Cotard’s Delusion
This rare mental health disorder was discovered in 1880 but is not formally recognized in the DSM-5. Rather, symptoms of the condition are related to anxiety and schizophrenia. People with Cotard’s delusion believe they are dying or are already deceased. They often report seeing other dead people. Other common symptoms can include:
- Depression
- Extreme sadness
- Refusing to eat or drink
- Stopping all daily activities
- Having throughs of self-harm
- Becoming insensitive to pain
8. Stendhal Syndrome
This condition is one of the more strange mental disorders. It is where a person experiences anxiety and confusion after they are exposed to an excessive amount of artwork. While rare, people often find out they have this condition when they visit an art gallery or art museum. In extreme cases, the person can experience hallucinations, and the anxiety can trigger a panic attack and heart attack. Other symptoms are:
- Altered perception of sound and colors
- Rapid onset of feeling sick while viewing art
9. Paris Syndrome
Another uniquely rare mental disorder is Paris syndrome. It is where someone experiences culture shock when they experience psychological distress and related symptoms from an overwhelming sense of disappointment. This condition got its name from Japanese tourists who visited Paris for the first time.
They were highly disappointed with the city’s appearance because it did not meet their original expectations. They became overwhelmed and experienced a range of symptoms, including:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Anger
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Feeling persecuted
- Experiencing hostility from others
- Worry
- Fear
- A sense of hopelessness
Are These Rare Mental Health Disorders Treatable?
All of these rare mental health disorders are treatable as part of a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to the unique needs of the individual. Some of the different treatments used include:
- Individual therapy
- CBT
DBT - Trauma therapy
- EMDR
- Group therapy
- Family therapy
- Holistic therapy
- TMS therapy
- Somatic therapy
Medications can also be prescribed when necessary to help alleviate symptoms and make it easier to manage one’s condition.
Importance of Awareness and Support
Increasing awareness about rare mental disorders is important to help educate people and make them aware these conditions exist. Increasing awareness also helps reduce the stigma around mental health disorders and encourages people afflicted with these conditions to seek support, care, and treatment.
Contact Montare Behavioral Health to Treat Rare Mental Disorders
If you or a loved one is exhibiting symptoms of a rare mental disorder, you do not have to struggle alone. Help is available at Montare Behavioral Health at our treatment facilities in California and Arizona. Our caring and compassionate team provides comprehensive treatment plans customized to your unique needs. Contact us today for further information and to start the admissions process for improved mental well-being.
Published: 4/2/2025
