Epileptic seizures and spirit possession in Haitian culture: report of four cases and review of the literature.
A E Cavanna, S Cavanna, A Cavanna
Epilepsy & behavior : E&B September 1, 2010 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2010.07.002 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case series Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 4 |
| Population | Haitian patients with epilepsy |
| Citations | 42 |
| Key findings | Seizures attributed to Voodoo spirit possession in four Haitian patients were actually temporal lobe epilepsy, as confirmed by electroclinical investigations. |
Abstract
Epileptic seizures have historically been associated with religious beliefs in spirit possession. These attitudes and misconceptions about epilepsy still flourish in developing countries as byproducts of specific sociocultural environments. This article presents a case series of four Haitian patients with epilepsy whose seizures were initially attributed to Voodoo spirit possession. All patients reported ictal experiential phenomena (epigastric aura, ictal fear, depersonalization, and derealization symptoms) followed by complete loss of consciousness. Electroclinical investigations revealed a temporal lobe focus. We review the existing literature on attitudes toward seizures within the Haitian culture and discuss the link between religion and epilepsy, highlighting the possible detrimental influence of specific traditional belief systems on the appropriate diagnosis and treatment of patients with epilepsy.