Psychosis or Spiritual Experience? Rethinking Mental States Through Cultural and Mystical Lenses
Journal of Scientific Exploration October 15, 2025 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.31275/20253827 via Semantic Scholar
Summary
Psychotic episodes are often viewed as pathological, but spiritual experiences like mediumship, shamanism, and mystical states share similarities with psychosis. Cultural background influences whether such experiences are seen as illness or spiritual significance. The review examines these overlaps, noting that spiritual meaning does not rule out underlying pathology; nutritional or biochemical causes should be considered. Openness to spiritual aspects may help guide treatment, and further research could link tangible and intangible dimensions of psychosis.
Study at a glance
| Design | review |
|---|---|
| Key finding | Spiritual experiences such as mediumship, shamanism, and mystical states overlap with psychosis, and cultural context influences whether psychotic episodes are deemed pathological, but attributing spiritual meaning does not exclude underlying pathology. |
Abstract
Psychotic processes remain poorly understood mental states. This review aims to examine the spiritual challenges and discrepancies surrounding psychosis, and the role cultural backgrounds and beliefs play in determining whether a psychotic episode is considered a pathological condition. The article explores mediumship, shamanism, and mystical experiences, examining their similarities and differences with psychosis. Symptoms of psychotic episodes are often viewed as pathological rather than simply different or less understood. The spiritual world remains a controversial topic in the scientific community. However, an openness in exploring this realm may help provide meaning and guidance to patients with psychosis. Mediumship, shamanism, and mystical experiences all involve altered states of consciousness and perceived interactions with spiritual realms; however, they differ in their conceptual foundations, cultural contexts, and functions. It is important to recognize that attributing spiritual meaning to a psychotic episode does not automatically rule out the possibility of an underlying pathology. Factors such as nutritional deficiencies or biochemical imbalances should be carefully considered before assigning spiritual significance to a symptom. This article aims to explore the complex interplay between these phenomena and psychosis, highlighting how their overlaps can complicate diagnosis and make treatment even more challenging. Further research on the subject could help to establish links between tangible and intangible aspects of life and bring to light new alternative approaches to address psychosis.