Practicing exorcism in schizophrenia

Abstract

Historically, many cases of demonic possession have masked major psychiatric disorder. Our aim is to increase awareness that symptoms of schizophrenia are still being classified as demonic possession by priests today. We report the case of a 28-year-old patient who had been diagnosed 5 years previously with paranoid schizophrenia (treated with clozapine, risperidone, ziprasidone and onlanzapine without a complete response) and was also receiving treatment in a first episode psychosis unit in Spain. The patient was led to believe by priests that her psychotic symptoms were due to the presence of a demon. This was surprising because some of the priests were from the Madrid archdiocese and knew the clinical situation of the patient; however, they believed that she was suffering from demonic possession, and she underwent multiple exorcisms, disrupting response to clinical treatment. Patient insight is an important factor in response to treatment, so religious professionals should encourage appropriate psychiatric treatment and learn about mental illnesses.

Delusions of Possession and Religious Coping in Schizophrenia: A Qualitative Study of Four Cases

“…Unfortunately, it also discourages or delays psychiatric treatment and psychotherapy. However, similar phenomena have also been observed in developed countries like Poland (Pietkiewicz et al, 2021 ), Spain (Tajima-Pozo et al, 2011 ), or the UK (Leavey, 2010 ). Pietkiewicz et al ( 2021 ) stress that religious leaders can influence help-seeking pathways and either refer people for clinical consultations or strengthen the belief in being possessed and encourage exorcisms.…”

“…Pietkiewicz et al ( 2021 ) stress that religious leaders can influence help-seeking pathways and either refer people for clinical consultations or strengthen the belief in being possessed and encourage exorcisms. Tajima-Pozo et al ( 2011 ) illustrate that with a case study of a 28-year old patient treated with medication and psychotherapy for paranoid schizophrenia with persistent delusions of possession. Because her treatment did not reduce cenesthetic hallucinations, priests led her to believe that her symptoms were due to the presence of a demon.…”

Exorcism:The Miracles of St Ignatius of Loyola

“…Despite this requirement, symptoms of schizophrenia are still being classified as demonic possession by priests in some countries. 8 Psychodynamic explanations of demonic possession have been largely based on Freud's retrospective application of libido theory 9 to the Christoph Haitzman case. Freud's view influenced the psychoanalytic theory of paranoid symptom formation and the psychoses.…”

Saúde Mental Coletiva: transoceanizando políticas e práticas locais-globais

“…9 Todo ello depende de la distancia entre el domicilio del paciente y el recurso asistencial más próximo, aunque también de si se tratan de ingresos voluntarios o no. Cuando el sistema judicial y policial interviene en el ingreso involuntario se pone de relieve la responsabilidad legal del psiquiatra, su monopolio en el diagnóstico de los trastornos mentales graves y su hegemonía profesional respecto de otros profesionales de la salud física y mental(Comelles et al, 2017) 10 La centralidad de los fármacos en la terapéutica ha sido extensamente criticada, especialmente por no resolver los síntomas negativos, por sus efectos secundarios y por los malestares que genera en las personas usuarias(Pol Yanguas, 2015;Stip, 2001;Tajima et al, 2009).…”