Integration of Geopsychiatry: A Synthesis and Analysis of Case Studies and Field Research on Possession Trance Disorder (PTD) in Indonesia
Medical Journal Awatara April 30, 2026 Pardomuan Robinson Sihombing
Possession Trance Disorder (PTD) and visual hallucinations in Indonesia often go untreated due to a split between medical and spiritual approaches. A systematic review of 15 primary studies (2019–2025) found that PTD consistently co-occurs with undiagnosed dysthymia and trauma. EEG evidence confirms trance as a biological hyperarousal state, not mere hysteria. Therapies rooted in Indigenous Psychology (Kawruh Jiwa) and cultural distraction techniques (drawing, Murottal) proved effective in clinical settings. The most effective model integrates medical biological stabilization with meaning restructuring through local psychology.