Pathological spirit possession as a cultural interpretation of trauma-related symptoms.
Psychological trauma : theory, research, practice and policy July 1, 2016 Tobias Hecker, Eva Barnewitz, Hakon Stenmark et al. 27 citations
In the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, pathological spirit possession is a common explanation for unexplainable mental and physical health problems, especially among people affected by war. Among 73 formerly possessed individuals, mostly women, the most frequent explanation was that a family member or neighbor sent the spirit out of jealousy or conflict. Lifetime spirit possession was linked to more severe PTSD symptoms, depression, shame, guilt, psychotic symptoms, and physical complaints. Possession in the prior four weeks was linked to PTSD, impaired functioning, and psychotic symptoms. The findings suggest pathological spirit possession serves as a broad cultural framework for distress, including but not limited to trauma-related disorders.