The Syndrome of Possession with Religious Content in Schizophrenia: Clinical Typology and Prognosis

Background: The study of the syndrome of possession with religious content (SPRC) in schizophrenia is associated with certain difficulties, such as insufficient study and low recognition of these conditions. These disorders appear to be very severe due to existing social risk and certain resistance to psychopharmacotherapy.

The aim: to conduct clinical and psychopathological differentiation of SPRS in schizophrenia, based on psychopathological features and pathogenesis of the syndrome, to develop personalized criteria for diagnosis and prognosis of the disease. Patients and methods: a total of 36 patients suffering from the SPRS in schizophrenia (F20.0, F20.01, F20.02 according to ICD-10) were examined. The research methods were used in the study: clinical-psychopathological, follow-up, and psychometric (PANSS) methods.

Results: syndrome of possession with religious content SPRC is persistent delusional patient's conviction in the impact on him carried out by some immaterial «spiritual entity», which involves control under his/her mind and body, and leads to total transformation of personality. SPRS is psychopathologically complex and polymorphic formation and is developed according to the laws of the Kandinsky-Clerambault syndrome. Due to psychopathological features two different types of this syndrome were identified: internal (type 1) and external (type 2). Differentiation of these forms was based on difference in character of affection's sense noted by patients (invading or from the outside).

Conclusion: two types of SPRS have different clinical and social prognosis and are observed in different progressive forms of schizophrenia.

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