The Shaman and Schizophrenia, Revisited

Summary

Some religious experts in Ghana, specifically okomfo priests, may experience schizophrenia-like symptoms that are managed through their religious practices. These priests can effectively function within their community without being seen as ill. Interviews revealed a range of experiences with hearing divine voices, from negative auditory hallucinations to trance-like states and interpretations of inner speech. The study suggests that their training and non-stigmatizing identity may influence the nature of these experiences.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This paper presents evidence that some-but not all-religious experts in a particular faith may have a schizophrenia-like psychotic process which is managed or mitigated by their religious practice, in that they are able to function effectively and are not identified by their community as ill. We conducted careful phenomenological interviews, in conjunction with a novel probe, with okomfo, priests of the traditional religion in Ghana who speak with their gods. They shared common understandings of how priests hear gods speak. Despite this, participants described quite varied personal experiences of the god's voice. Some reported voices which were auditory and more negative; some seemed to describe trance-like states, sometimes associated with trauma and violence; some seemed to be described sleep-related events; and some seemed to be interpreting ordinary inner speech. These differences in description were supported by the way participants responded to an auditory clip made to simulate the voice-hearing experiences of psychosis and which had been translated into the local language. We suggest that for some individuals, the apprenticeship trained practice of talking with the gods, in conjunction with a non-stigmatizing identity, may shape the content and emotional tone of voices associated with a psychotic process.

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