Jinn-possession with psychosis, childhood traumatic experiences, and dissociation; a comparison with schizophrenia in the Southeastern region of Türkiye.
BMC psychology September 26, 2025 Mahir Akbudak, Hasan Belli, Hasan Gökçay
Patients diagnosed with jinn-possession psychosis (JPP) in southeastern Turkey report higher levels of childhood trauma and dissociation than patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. The study compared 42 people with JPP and 42 with schizophrenia. Those with JPP scored higher on physical abuse, emotional neglect, sexual abuse, and physical neglect. Schizophrenia patients had more negative symptoms, but positive symptoms did not differ between groups. Dissociation and total childhood trauma scores were significant predictors of JPP group membership, though only dissociation and total PANSS scores remained independent predictors in a multivariate model. The findings suggest that therapies addressing childhood trauma and culturally specific beliefs, alongside medication, may benefit JPP treatment.