Spiritist Views of Mental Disorders in Brazil

Bibliographic Data

ID2394551
AuthorsAlexander Moreira-Almeida (0000-0002-9135-2532, Universidade de São Paulo), Francisco Lotufo Neto (0000-0002-2043-7643, University of S'o Paulo)
Year2005
Volume42
Issue4
Pages570-595
Publication date2005-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueTranscultural Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1363-4615 • E-ISSN: 1461-7471
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/1363461505058916
PMID16570518
OpenAlexW2077331229
LanguageEN
Citations received13
References cited14

The Spiritist perspective on mental disorders exerts a great influence in Brazil. Spiritist theory supports the survival of the spirit after death with an exchange of knowledge between the incarnated and disincarnated spirits. This article reviews the texts on mental disorders and Spiritism written by four leading Spiritist authors: Allan Kardec, Bezerra de Menezes, Inácio Ferreira and Joanna de ¬ngelis. These authors advocated a model of spiritual etiology without rejecting the biological, psychological, and social causes of mental disorders. The Spiritist etiologic model for mental disorders includes the negative influences of discarnated spirits (termed 'obsession') or trauma experienced in previous lives. In addition to conventional medical and psychological therapeutics, spiritist séances for disobsession are recommended, as well as 'passes', prayers and efforts to live according to ethical principles. The importance of Spiritist views in Brazil indicates the need for more academic research on this tradition

Art · Psychoanalysis · Psychotherapist · Social science · Sociology · Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs · Psychology · Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology · Religious Studies and Spiritual Practices

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