Spirit possession and healing among Chinese psychiatric patients.
Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica December 1, 1993 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1993.tb03489.x via PubMed
Summary
Among 100 Chinese psychiatric patients in a Singapore general hospital, more women than men attributed their illness to spirit possession, but belief in possession was unrelated to education. Thirty-six patients or their relatives had consulted a traditional healer before seeking hospital care. Duration of illness, sex, and education did not predict such help-seeking, nor did a diagnosis of psychosis versus neurosis. Most depressed patients (72%) presented with somatic complaints such as chest discomfort, headache, and abdominal discomfort, and somatization was not linked to education or sex.
Study at a glance
| Design | observational cohort |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 100 |
| Population | Chinese psychiatric patients referred to a general hospital psychiatric unit in Singapore |
| Key finding | Belief in spirit possession was more common among women, but neither belief nor help-seeking from traditional healers was related to education, sex, or duration of illness, and most depressed patients presented with somatic complaints. |
Abstract
This is a study of the illness behaviour of 100 Chinese psychiatric patients referred consecutively to the psychiatric unit of a general hospital in Singapore. More women than men felt that their illness was due to spirit possession; but belief in possession was not related to educational status. Thirty-six patients or their relatives had consulted a traditional healer before going to the hospital. Duration of illness, sex and educational status were not associated with the tendency to seek help from the traditional healer; there was also no significant difference between psychotic or neurotic patients. The majority of depressed patients (72%) presented with somatic complaints of chest discomfort, headache and abdominal discomfort. Somatization was not related to the educational level or sex of the patients.