Schizophrenia Patient or Spiritually Advanced Personality? A Qualitative Case Analysis.
Hemant Bhargav, Aarti Jagannathan, Nagarathna Raghuram, T M Srinivasan, Bangalore N Gangadhar
Journal of Religion and Health October 1, 2015 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-014-9994-0 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractSpiritual experiences and psychotic symptoms can appear similar, both involving alterations in the sense of self. Spiritual growth involves systematically reducing the ego to merge with universal consciousness, while psychosis stems from personality derangement. Clinical practice lacks clear guidelines for distinguishing them. This case presentation of a 34-year-old unmarried man with complaints of lacking a sense of self since childhood, existential questioning, social withdrawal, and occupational dysfunction uses qualitative analysis and discussions referencing ancient texts and modern psychology. The diagnosis was schizophrenia, not spiritual advancement, and the report tabulates clinically useful distinguishing features.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Case study Qualitative Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | 34-year-old unmarried male |
| Key finding | A case of a man with symptoms resembling spiritual experiences was diagnosed as schizophrenia rather than spiritual advancement, and clinically useful distinguishing features are tabulated. |
Abstract
Many aspects of spiritual experience are similar in form and content to symptoms of psychosis. Both spiritually advanced people and patients suffering from psychopathology experience alterations in their sense of 'self.' Psychotic experiences originate from derangement of the personality, whereas spiritual experiences involve systematic thinning out of the selfish ego, allowing individual consciousness to merge into universal consciousness. Documented instances and case studies suggest possible confusion between the spiritually advanced and schizophrenia patients. Clinical practice contains no clear guidelines on how to distinguish them. Here we use a case presentation to help tabulate clinically useful points distinguishing spiritually advanced persons from schizophrenia patients. A 34-year-old unmarried male reported to our clinic with four main complaints: lack of sense of self since childhood; repeated thoughts questioning whether he existed or not; social withdrawal; and inability to continue in any occupation. Qualitative case analysis and discussions using descriptions from ancient texts and modern psychology led to the diagnosis of schizophrenia rather than spiritual advancement.