The power of the divine: religion, rituals, and healing in Greece

Summary

Religious healing remains a common resource for mental distress in Greece, even where mainstream psychology is available. Supernatural explanations of mental illness, such as the evil eye and spirit possession, are still widespread. Patients and families often turn to religious healers, perceiving ritual healing as effective for symptom relief. Although some studies indicate ritual participation can be efficacious, more research is needed on its efficacy for mental disorders. Ethnographic methods and biomedical assessments are recommended to understand perceived healing and physiological changes.

Study at a glance

Abstract

ABSTRACT The present critical review examines the role of religious healing in mental health in Greece. After describing the history of psychiatry in Greece, and the close links between medicine and religion, we discuss the role of various ritual contexts in healing mental distress. Findings suggest that supernatural explanatory models of mental illness, such as the evil eye and spirit possession still appear to be prevalent in many parts of Greece. Despite the availability of mainstream psychology, patients and their families commonly resort to religious healers. The perception is that ritual healing is effective in alleviating symptoms of mental distress. While studies suggest that ritual participation can be efficacious, there is a need for future research to examine the efficacy of religious healing for mental disorders. Ethnographic methods will play a significant role in understanding how ritual attendees perceive healing and biomedical assessments elucidate physiological changes.

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