Self-inflicted Foreign Body Insertion and Dissociative Disorder in the Context of Cultural Beliefs: A Case Report

The relationship between religion, culture, and mental health is an ongoing and important area of study, particularly in societies where spiritual beliefs significantly influence people’s lives. This report presents the case of a 20 year old woman from rural India who repeatedly harmed herself by inserting iron nails into her forearm, driven by her father’s religious belief. Her family perceived her symptoms as a form of possession and sought faith based interventions rather than medical care. She was later diagnosed with dissociative disorder with trance and possession, and her symptoms improved with psychiatric treatment. However, her father’s beliefs continued to influence her understanding of the illness. This case highlights the challenges of integrating religious and cultural beliefs into psychiatric care, emphasizing the need for culturally sensitive approaches that respects religious beliefs while ensuring timely evidence based treatment.