Trance and Possession Disorder With Underlying Dysthymia: A Case Report
Yatika Chadha, Ragini Patil, Saket Toshniwal, Nayan Sinha
Cureus February 26, 2024 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.7759/cureus.54991 via OpenAlex
Summary
Trance and possession disorder (TPD) involves altered states of consciousness, with trance characterized by temporary changes in awareness without identity replacement, while possession includes identity replacement by a spirit or deity. A case from Maharashtra, India, illustrates TPD in a patient with dysthymia, showing that managing the underlying condition led to the cessation of trance episodes. This highlights the connection between emotional stress, sociocultural factors, and TPD.
Study at a glance
| Sample size | 1 |
|---|---|
| Population | a patient diagnosed with trance and possession disorder from Maharashtra, India |
| Key finding | Managing the patient's underlying dysthymia ceased the trance episodes. |
Abstract
Trance and possession disorder (TPD) is an intriguing and complex phenomenon in the realm of psychology and psychiatry. Trance is characterized by a state of temporary marked alteration in the state of consciousness without replacement by an alternate identity, with either a narrowing of awareness of immediate surroundings or behaviors that are beyond one's control. Possession is defined as an episode of alteration in the state of consciousness with the replacement of the customary sense of personal identity by a new identity, identified by the patient or his entourage as the spirit of an animal, a deceased individual, a deity, or a power. This often manifests culturally and contextually, varying in intensity and duration across different societies and belief systems, which could be due to an interplay of emotional stress and repressed emotions, domestic discord, or sociocultural issues. We report a case from Maharashtra, India, involving a patient diagnosed with TPD with underlying dysthymia. This case also highlights the complex interplay between these two psychiatric conditions and how managing one condition subsequently ceased the trance episodes.