Classical Processing of Primary Delusional Experiences in a Family with Shared Delusion and Trance Possession Attacks – A Case Report

Abstract Possession trance involves single or episodic alterations in the state of consciousness, characterized by the exchange of the person’s customary identity with a new identity usually attributed to a spirit, divine power, deity, or another person. In this possessed state, the individual exhibits stereotypical and culturally determined behaviors or experiences being controlled by the possessing entity. There must be partial or full amnesia for the event. It must cause significant distress or impairment in one or several domains and must not occur due a psychotic illness or be the result of substance abuse³. Trance Possession attacks can easily be misdiagnosed as psychotic illnesses including Schizophrenia. I am reporting a case of a trance possession attack in a 24 year girl, whose whole family developed and shared delusional beliefs and multiple family members got possession attacks over a period of time.