Possession trance in a semi-urban community in Sri Lanka.
C P Wijesinghe, S A Dissanayake, N Mendis
Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry June 1, 1976 DOI: 10.3109/00048677609159490 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 37 |
| Population | Semi-urban population |
| Citations | 27 |
| Key findings | Among 7,653 surveyed individuals, 37 experienced possession trance states, and these subjects showed significant differences from the total population in characteristics including psychiatric disorder. |
Abstract
A survey of possession trance states in a semi-urban population of 7653 identified 37 subjects. The manifestations of the trance, and its course and outcome are outlined. The characteristics of the subjects, including presence of psychiatric disorder, are compared with that of the total population, and significant differences are noted. Four psychodynamic syndromes observed are described with illustrative case vignettes. The functions subserved by possession behaviour are reviewed, and comparisons are drawn between personal possession, ritual possession, and altered states of consciousness in Western society.
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Dissociative trance and spirit possession: Challenges for cultures in transition. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences September 18, 2016
- Scoping review on shamanistic trances practices. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies November 4, 2024
- The Prevalence of Dissociative Disorders and Spirit Possession in the General Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis With the Moderating Effect of Individualism–Collectivism on Prevalence Rates Clinical Psychological Science September 15, 2025
- Cultural Countertransference of Young Clinicians Facing a State of Possession: A Cultural Case Study. Culture, Medicine, and Psychiatry February 9, 2026