The Shaman and Schizophrenia, Revisited

Some religious experts in Ghana's traditional religion—okomfo priests who speak with their gods—may experience a schizophrenia-like psychotic process that is managed by their religious practice, allowing them to function effectively without being seen as ill. Phenomenological interviews and a novel auditory probe revealed that priests shared common understandings of how gods speak, but their personal experiences varied widely: some heard auditory, negative voices; others described trance-like states linked to trauma or violence; some reported sleep-related events; and some interpreted ordinary inner speech. These differences aligned with responses to an auditory clip simulating psychosis voice-hearing. The findings suggest that apprenticeship training in talking with gods, combined with a non-stigmatizing identity, may shape the content and emotional tone of voices associated with a psychotic process.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This paper presents evidence that some-but not all-religious experts in a particular faith may have a schizophrenia-like psychotic process which is managed or mitigated by their religious practice, in that they are able to function effectively and are not identified by their community as ill. We conducted careful phenomenological interviews, in conjunction with a novel probe, with okomfo, priests of the traditional religion in Ghana who speak with their gods. They shared common understandings of how priests hear gods speak. Despite this, participants described quite varied personal experiences of the god's voice. Some reported voices which were auditory and more negative; some seemed to describe trance-like states, sometimes associated with trauma and violence; some seemed to be described sleep-related events; and some seemed to be interpreting ordinary inner speech. These differences in description were supported by the way participants responded to an auditory clip made to simulate the voice-hearing experiences of psychosis and which had been translated into the local language. We suggest that for some individuals, the apprenticeship trained practice of talking with the gods, in conjunction with a non-stigmatizing identity, may shape the content and emotional tone of voices associated with a psychotic process.