A Narrative Review on Jerusalem Syndrome: Exploring Diagnosis, Treatment and Cultural Impacts
Truptesh Patil, Bhagyesh Sapkale, Anjali A. Vagga, Sachin R Gedam
Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research 2024 DOI: 10.7860/jcdr/2024/70465.19737 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key findings | The review describes "Jerusalem Syndrome," an unofficial condition in which non-religious visitors to Jerusalem develop obsessive religious ideas and delusions that can lead to psychosis, with three types distinguished by whether psychosis or unusual ideas existed before travel or emerged only in Jerusalem. The authors compare it with "Paris Syndrome" and note similarities with schizophrenia, attributing triggers to Jerusalem's significance, and describe treatment as individualised mental care combining medication and psychotherapy. |
Abstract
Visitors to Jerusalem who are not religious may experience “Jerusalem Syndrome,” characterised by obsessive religious ideas and delusions that can lead to psychosis. There are three varieties of this disorder. However, it is not officially recognised: Type-I affects individuals who have already experienced psychosis; Type-II affects persons who held unusual ideas before travelling to Jerusalem; and Type-III affects people who were initially mentally stable but developed psychosis while in Jerusalem. The review explores the effects of Jerusalem Syndrome on mental health, drawing comparisons with “Paris Syndrome.” Notable similarities with schizophrenia point to different initiators related to Jerusalem’s significance. Jerusalem Syndrome is treated with individualised mental care that combines medication and psychotherapy.