A Caucasian Roman-Catholic woman who had undergone exorcisms for affect regulation problems, uncontrolled sexual impulses, and somatoform symptoms with altered consciousness received a diagnosis of Possession Trance Disorder. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, the case study explores how she attributed meaning to "possession" as both a folk category and a medical diagnosis, and how this shaped her help-seeking. The diagnosis reinforced her belief in supernatural causation and discouraged professional treatment. The study also discusses dilemmas and uncertainties about the diagnostic criteria and validity of the disorder.
Two women with a history of sexual abuse were labeled as possessed by their religious communities and subjected to exorcisms. A clinical assessment and interpretative phenomenological analysis revealed that accepting a demonic explanation for trauma-related symptoms and interventions from clergy provided social support but prevented them from seeking diagnostic evaluations and trauma-focused therapy, resulting in persistent symptoms. This underscores the need to educate religious leaders about basic psychopathological symptoms.