Possession and exorcism: An illustrative case.

Author: Younis, Yahia O

Source:
Arab Journal of Psychiatry, 11(1), 56-59.
Presents the case of a young female (aged early 20s) with bipolar affective disorder who received possession and exorcism treatment from faith healers. She had been physically tortured by healers in Jinn [demon] exorcism attempts, and had faked her confession to save her life under pressure from torture. In Arab countries, Jinn is commonly believed to be the main causative factor in mental disorders, and this leads to the practice of exorcism. Jinn existence is a fundamental tenet of Muslim belief, but the ability of Jinn to cause mental disorders through entering the body is based on anecdotal evidence. The present case illustrates that Jinn talk may result from conscious efforts by patients to free themselves from torture by exorcists.