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Exorcism-resistant ghost possession treated with clopenthixol.

A S Hale·N R Pinninti
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: An Indian man now in Britain explained his criminal behaviour as episodic ghost possession. Traditional exorcisms failed to help. METHOD: A 'Western' diagnosis of dissociative state or paranoid schizophrenia was made. Treatment commenced using trifluoperazine and clopenthixol. RESULTS: The patient underwent remission during neuroleptic treatment, despite previous evidence of genuine possession. CONCLUSIONS: Many cultures give rise to apparently genuine cases of ghost possession. Neuroleptics may relieve symptoms of exorcism-resistant possession.

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AcculturationAdultClopenthixolCombined Modality TherapyCrimeDelusionsDiagnosis, DifferentialDissociative DisordersHinduismHumansIndiaMagicMaleMedicine, TraditionalMental HealingPastoral CareReligion and PsychologySchizophrenia, ParanoidUnited KingdomCase ReportsJournal Article

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A S Hale, N R Pinninti. 1994. Exorcism-resistant ghost possession treated with clopenthixol.. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.165.3.386

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