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Conversion disorder: A case report of treatment with the Main Puteri, a Malay shamanastic healing ceremony

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

S.M. Razali
S.M. Razali*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
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Summary

We report on the case of a 38-year-old Malay housewife diagnosed with conversion disorder. It was believed that ‘evil spirits’ caused her symptoms. The patient was eventually treated by the Main Puteri, a Malay shamanistic healing ceremony, after previous treatments failed. The patient improved on the third day of the performance, which was attributed to the departure of the spirits from her body. This case documents the potential benefits of indigenous psychotherapy.

Keywords

bomohconversion disorderMain PuteriMalay cultureshaman
Type
Case report
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 14 , Issue 8 , December 1999 , pp. 470 - 472
Copyright
Copyright © Éditions scientifiques et médicales Elsevier SAS 1999

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