Divine shadows and broken minds: cultural and magico-religious beliefs in schizophrenia

Abstract

Understanding cultural and religious beliefs related to mental illness is essential for the effective delivery of psychiatric care in a culturally diverse and spiritually embedded country such as India. This single-case study examines a young adult male with paranoid schizophrenia whose delusions incorporated spiritual and cultural narratives, including ancestral curses, divine powers, and magical thinking. In-depth interviews with the patient and his mother were analysed thematically, revealing four key themes: (1) Cultural and spiritual beliefs shaping delusional content, (2) Tattoos as physical manifestations of psychotic and spiritual experiences, (3) Alternating engagement with traditional healing and psychiatric care, and (4) Societal stigma influencing treatment adherence. The caregiver balanced faith-based practices with psychiatric treatment, reflecting emotional commitment and culturally influenced decision-making. The findings highlight the need for clinicians to explore culturally rooted explanatory models, understand the meaning ascribed to symptoms, and negotiate collaborative treatment strategies that respect cultural context while supporting adherence.