See no evil, hear no evil? the role of psychiatry in exorcism
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine December 26, 2025 Declan Christopher Lyons, Mohammed Al Hassan, Shahzeb Shahid et al.
Throughout history, many psychological and physical afflictions have been attributed to involuntary demonic possession, with traditional remedies like exorcism used to expel such forces. Similar beliefs can be symptoms of major mental illness, for which medication and psychotherapy are recommended. In an increasingly secular Western world, non-denominational Christian churches and other faiths that accept spirit possession and exorcism are growing. Culturally competent mental health professionals may struggle with exorcism, viewing it as interference with conventional treatment, and may be unwilling to differentiate between possession and mental illness. This paper explores diverse views on this topic, points of contention and overlap, and stresses necessary risks and cautions.