Trance and Possession Disorder With Underlying Dysthymia: A Case Report
Yatika Chadha, Ragini Patil, Saket Toshniwal, Nayan Sinha
Cureus February 26, 2024 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.54991 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A patient from Maharashtra, India, diagnosed with trance and possession disorder and underlying dysthymia |
| Keywords | Trance Consciousness Possession linguistics Realm Altered state Sociocultural evolution Psychoanalysis Identity music Phenomenon Psychotherapist Aesthetics Epistemology Law Anthropology |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key findings | Managing the patient's underlying dysthymia subsequently ceased the trance episodes. |
Abstract
Trance and possession disorder (TPD) is an intriguing and complex phenomenon in the realm of psychology and psychiatry. Trance is characterized by a state of temporary marked alteration in the state of consciousness without replacement by an alternate identity, with either a narrowing of awareness of immediate surroundings or behaviors that are beyond one's control. Possession is defined as an episode of alteration in the state of consciousness with the replacement of the customary sense of personal identity by a new identity, identified by the patient or his entourage as the spirit of an animal, a deceased individual, a deity, or a power. This often manifests culturally and contextually, varying in intensity and duration across different societies and belief systems, which could be due to an interplay of emotional stress and repressed emotions, domestic discord, or sociocultural issues. We report a case from Maharashtra, India, involving a patient diagnosed with TPD with underlying dysthymia. This case also highlights the complex interplay between these two psychiatric conditions and how managing one condition subsequently ceased the trance episodes.