Possession Syndrome in Rural Nepal: A Case Study Examining Cultural, Clinical and Forensic Implications
Case Reports in Psychiatry January 1, 2025 Alok Atreya, Sabbu Maharjan, Samata Nepal et al. 1 citation
A 30-year-old woman in rural Nepal experienced acute episodes of altered consciousness, religious chanting, and deity-associated behavior, likely influenced by local beliefs in divine possession. Similar symptoms occurred in a family member, and she first sought help from traditional healers before psychiatric care. Medical tests were normal. The condition, understood as a possession state involving substitution of personality by a spirit or deity, responded well to combined medication and supportive psychotherapy during a brief hospital stay. The case underscores the need for cultural competence in forensic psychiatric evaluations in Nepal and highlights challenges in applying mental health legislation within traditional cultural settings.