Polish Catholics Attribute Trauma-related Symptoms to Possession: Qualitative Analysis of Two Childhood Sexual Abuse Survivors.
Igor J. Pietkiewicz, Urszula Kłosińska, Radosław Tomalski
Journal of child sexual abuse 2022 DOI: 10.1080/10538712.2022.2067094 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 2 |
| Population | Two women with a history of sexual abuse labeled as possessed and subjected to exorcisms |
| Intervention | exorcisms |
| Keywords | Child sexual abuse Cptsd Diagnostic assessment Exorcism Partial did Possession |
| Citations | 8 |
| Key findings | Accepting a demonic reappraisal of trauma-related symptoms and clergy interventions provided social support but discouraged diagnostic consultations and trauma-focused therapy, leading to continued symptoms. |
Abstract
In many cultures, people use the concept of spirit possession to explain abrupt changes in behavior and identity or problems with affect regulation. High incidence of traumatic experiences are also found among "possession" victims but there are few studies exploring in detail their clinical presentations. This study reports the symptoms of two women with a history of sexual abuse, labeled in their religious communities as possessed, and subjected to exorcisms. Following a thorough clinical assessment, interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to explore their meaning-making and help-seeking behavior. Accepting the demonic reappraisal of trauma-related symptoms and interventions offered by clergy contributed to receiving social support but discouraged them from seeking diagnostic consultations and trauma-focused therapy, leading to their continued symptoms. This justifies the need for educating religious leaders in recognizing and understanding basic psychopathological symptoms.