The Shaman and Schizophrenia, Revisited
Culture Medicine and Psychiatry November 30, 2023 T. M. Luhrmann, John Dulin, Vivian Dzokoto 8 citations
Some religious experts in Ghana's traditional religion—okomfo priests who speak with their gods—may experience a schizophrenia-like psychotic process that is managed by their religious practice, allowing them to function effectively without being seen as ill. Phenomenological interviews and a novel auditory probe revealed that priests shared common understandings of how gods speak, but their personal experiences varied widely: some heard auditory, negative voices; others described trance-like states linked to trauma or violence; some reported sleep-related events; and some interpreted ordinary inner speech. These differences aligned with responses to an auditory clip simulating psychosis voice-hearing. The findings suggest that apprenticeship training in talking with gods, combined with a non-stigmatizing identity, may shape the content and emotional tone of voices associated with a psychotic process.