ABSTRACT

In many cultures, people use the concept of spirit possession to explain abrupt changes in behavior and identity or problems with affect regulation. High incidence of traumatic experiences are also found among “possession” victims but there are few studies exploring in detail their clinical presentations. This study reports the symptoms of two women with a history of sexual abuse, labeled in their religious communities as possessed, and subjected to exorcisms. Following a thorough clinical assessment, interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to explore their meaning-making and help-seeking behavior. Accepting the demonic reappraisal of trauma-related symptoms and interventions offered by clergy contributed to receiving social support but discouraged them from seeking diagnostic consultations and trauma-focused therapy, leading to their continued symptoms. This justifies the need for educating religious leaders in recognizing and understanding basic psychopathological symptoms.

摘要

在许多文化中，人们使用精神占有的概念来解释行为和身份的突然变化或情感调节问题。在“占有”受害者中也发现了创伤经历的高发生率，但很少有研究详细探讨他们的临床表现。这项研究报告了两名有性虐待史的妇女的症状，在她们的宗教社区中被标记为附身，并受到驱魔。经过彻底的临床评估，解释性现象学分析被用来探索他们的意义构建和寻求帮助的行为。接受神职人员提供的对创伤相关症状的恶魔般的重新评估和干预有助于获得社会支持，但阻止他们寻求诊断咨询和以创伤为重点的治疗，导致他们的持续症状。这证明有必要教育宗教领袖认识和理解基本的精神病理学症状。