Expériences de possession et symptômes dissociatifs chez un échantillon de sujets pratiquant l'exorcisme

Possession experiences remain poorly studied from a clinical viewpoint. The objective of this study was to evaluate psychic phenomena associated with these experiences of practicing exorcism. The study was conducted in natural settings by clinicians (psychiatrists, physicians, and psychologists) with a sample of subjects of Mexican nationality practicing exorcism rituals. After approval of the local religious authorities, evaluators attended exorcism practices performed by priests on 25 subjects who consented to the study. Subjects were observed by clinicians throughout the ritual. They were evaluated in the days preceding the ritual with clinical interviews and questionnaires for diagnostic purposes (Structural Clinical Interview for DSM [SCID], Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale [BPRS], Global Assessment of Functioning [GAF], Clinical Global Impression [CGI]). A second interview and assessment using the CGI was made one hour after the ritual. The results showed the presence of psychopathological syndromes and signs in the initial evaluation: dissociative symptoms and DSM Axis I or II disorders, with a moderate impact on the overall functioning of the subject. During the ritual dissociative states were identified, sometimes preceded by anxiety, such as are described in trance states. Post-ritual evaluation of the symptoms initially identified revealed that these had either significantly reduced or completely disappeared. The CGI severity was significantly decreased. This data allows better understanding of the psychopathology of these subjects describing their possession experiences and exorcism practices. It also shows the diagnostic complexity, in particular due to their cultural component. There remains a need for further research to better assess these phenomena and to understand the processes involved in the changes reported by the subjects after these rituals.