Exorcism-resistant ghost possession treated with clopenthixol.

BACKGROUND

An Indian man now in Britain explained his criminal behaviour as episodic ghost possession. Traditional exorcisms failed to help.

METHOD: A 'Western' diagnosis of dissociative state or paranoid schizophrenia was made. Treatment commenced using trifluoperazine and clopenthixol.

RESULTS

The patient underwent remission during neuroleptic treatment, despite previous evidence of genuine possession.

CONCLUSIONS

Many cultures give rise to apparently genuine cases of ghost possession. Neuroleptics may relieve symptoms of exorcism-resistant possession.