Trance and Possession Disorder With Underlying Dysthymia: A Case Report

Trance and possession disorder involves a temporary altered state of consciousness, with trance marked by narrowed awareness or uncontrollable behaviors without identity change, and possession by replacement of personal identity with that of a spirit, deity, or animal. These episodes vary culturally and are linked to emotional stress, repressed emotions, domestic discord, or sociocultural issues. A case from Maharashtra, India, describes a patient diagnosed with trance and possession disorder alongside underlying dysthymia; treating the dysthymia stopped the trance episodes, illustrating the interplay between the two conditions.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Trance and possession disorder (TPD) is an intriguing and complex phenomenon in the realm of psychology and psychiatry. Trance is characterized by a state of temporary marked alteration in the state of consciousness without replacement by an alternate identity, with either a narrowing of awareness of immediate surroundings or behaviors that are beyond one's control. Possession is defined as an episode of alteration in the state of consciousness with the replacement of the customary sense of personal identity by a new identity, identified by the patient or his entourage as the spirit of an animal, a deceased individual, a deity, or a power. This often manifests culturally and contextually, varying in intensity and duration across different societies and belief systems, which could be due to an interplay of emotional stress and repressed emotions, domestic discord, or sociocultural issues. We report a case from Maharashtra, India, involving a patient diagnosed with TPD with underlying dysthymia. This case also highlights the complex interplay between these two psychiatric conditions and how managing one condition subsequently ceased the trance episodes.