Unravelling the spirits' message: a study of help-seeking steps and explanatory models among patients suffering from spirit possession in Uganda.
International journal of mental health systems January 1, 2014 Marjolein Van Duijl, Wim Kleijn, Joop De Jong 41 citations
In southwestern Uganda, spirit possession is a common way people express distress linked to traumatic experiences. Among 119 patients referred by traditional healers, two-thirds initially sought medical help for physical symptoms, which later developed into dissociative possession symptoms. After an average of two help-seeking steps, 99% found satisfactory explanations and effective healing from traditional healers. Healing sessions involved summoning possessing agents to identify underlying problems, such as neglect of rituals, family responsibilities, the call to become a healer, witchcraft, grief, and land conflicts. The findings suggest that traditional healing can restore connections across social and spiritual worlds without necessarily addressing individual traumatic experiences directly.