It was almost 2 years back, that an incident happened in Kerala,
which attracted my interest. A college girl of age 18 was brought dead to
hospital and had severe wounds on her, which her parents reported happened due to epileptic
seizures. Regular police investigation revealed that she was dead during an act of exorcism. I did a personal inquiry into the subject with the help of local friends and
friends in police, and realized that the girl would have been under the mental disorder condition (as per
facts reported) that falls under Dissociative Disorders (DSM IV TR) , and most
probably would have been Dissociative Identity Disorder or Depersonalization Disorder.
But lack of awareness among the public about such a disorder has made the
parents pick a conman, instead of a good doctor or healer, which lead to the death
of an young girl. And one reason for that is mistrust on Allopathic medicine to treat Dissociative Disorders due to its repeated failure, and lack of awarness in common mass. I had written articles
in newspaper describing my observations which was followed by many inquiries, indicating the lack of knowledge about such
disorders among the common mass.
Second incident happened six months before. A girl of age
14, reportedly possessed by spirit of an old neighbor who died 10 years before
was brought into my attention. I had the privilege to meet the girl and her
parents. Parents reported that she woke
up every night around 2 pm and was seen applying make ups. On questioning, she
had asked the parents not to disturb, and said she was Ms. A, the dead neighbor.
She exactly mimicked the mannerisms and tone of the dead woman, which they
believe is impossible as she was hardly 3 years when the neighbor died. Also the girl
never recollected what she did at night. I asked her parents to meet a psychologist working in Govt.
Medical College, and his diagnosis was that she is depressed and she is acting
it seeking attention of parents.
A detailed examination of her by myself ( Since
more experienced Psychologist didn’t make significant intervention) revealed that
she indeed express key diagnostic features of Dissociative Identity Disorder, but also exhibited a few atypical features that are not mentioned in DSM IV TR. So
would that make her a Non DID case?? I went through many case studies on
previously reported cases of MPD, and realized it was common that many atypical
features are present in cases reported in India. My normal counseling with her
revealed her inferiorities about her looks and a sudden trauma that happened in
her life.
A Cognitive Behavior therapy oriented counseling, along with
Semi-Hypnotic therapies, to find out unconscious events that was hurting her
was used as intervention. Soon her so called “possession” was over, indicating
it was indeed a mental disorder. I have prepared a detailed case history and
awaiting its publication. This was another incident where trained practitioners who stick to manuals came short of helping a person in need
Third, was my experience of seeing a “South Kerala Style”
exorcism. I was witnessing it with an academic interest and I realized that
there is a therapeutic angle to Exorcisms,
and may be thats why few get cured.. The whole essence of Dissociation is
immense trauma that person cannot handle. And to escape from it, the person
goes into a dissociation. But during exorcism, an ambiance of immense trauma is
been created. Along with that, extremely terrifying objects are used to create
visual trauma. Also they are physically tortured to create a physical trauma
too. Adding this, the person feels its better to be the real me, and goes back.
I call it “Reverse traumatization”. Also involved was a culturally adapted, advanced version of "gestalt therapy' and "Cognitive Therapy". And obviously, it worked and the client was visibly improved in her mental state.
With these incidents, I realized few things.
1.
Awareness about Dissociative disorders are
almost nil in Indian society, and public still see that disorder with fear and
Culture related.2. Indian expression of Dissociative Disorders can be a bit different than classical American expression of it, that should not be a reason for mis-diagnosis (As all the diagnostic manuals are largely based on western world studies)
3. Even psychiatrists doesn’t have a clear idea about such disorders, and their only remedy is Anti-Depressant, which i s been continuously proved ineffective through various studies across the globe.
4. Client Centered Therapy which waits for the patient to unfold himself/herself is currently the preferred approach. But I have personally seen Cognitive Behavior Therapy being Successful, which is a shorter and crispier intervention.
5. Cultural retreats and Ashrams are the first to go destinations for such disorders among public.
6. Many Cultural practices in India, for example “velichappadu” in Kerala are culturally accepted versions of Depersonalisation, (even though its an abnormality).
The end point is, even if we try to dismiss Indian version of exorcism as unscientific, there are some therapeutic elements that can be identified, such as concept of reverse traumatization. What if we could give this in vitro? By not hurting the person in real, but through suggestions? That could be a new School of therapeutic approach altogether.
Its high time we start concentrating on Indian psycho therapeutic Approaches which are more Culture specific and effective.
