Dissociative amnesia in the context of cultural beliefs about demonic possession: a case study in a rural community from Peru

Alvarez R.M.; de la Cruz Y.Y.; Palacios M.G.A.; Adrianzén P.E.V.; Sánchez J.P.; Veneros F.C.T.; Quispe J.M. · Revista de Neuro-Psiquiatria (2026) · DOI: 10.20453/rnp.v89i2.6397

Resumen

Case report of a 22-year-old woman from Nueva Cajamarca, Peru, who, after meeting her biological father, whom she had never known, and being rejected by her paternal grandmother, began experiencing dissociative symptoms, including disorientation, loss of identity, bizarre behavior, aggressiveness, and unintelligible speech. The family interpreted the condition as a demonic possession and sought help from a healer and, later, of a Pentecostal church, where exorcism rituals were performed for seven days. The patient subsequently regained consciousness with no memory of the episode. She is currently receiving psychiatric care for residual symptoms such as sadness, anxiety, hypobulia, headaches, and fear of being alone. This case highlights the interaction between dissociative disorders and cultural beliefs in the interpretation and management of psychiatric symptoms. © Los autores