The DOI matches its Crossref record; 10 of the 10 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Possession Trance in a Semi-Urban Community in Sri Lanka
Abstract
A survey of possession trance states in a semi-urban population of 7653 identified 37 subjects. The manifestations of the trance, and its course and outcome are outlined. The characteristics of the subjects, including presence of psychiatric disorder, are compared with that of the total population, and significant differences are noted. Four psychodynamic syndromes observed are described with illustrative case vignettes. The functions subserved by possession behaviour are reviewed, and comparisons are drawn between personal possession, ritual possession, and altered states of consciousness in Western society.
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“possession trance showed increased noradrenaline, dopamine, and beta-endorphin levels”
From Scoping review on shamanistic trances practices (2024) · cites this paper as [53]
Citations
Cites
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Cited by
Multiple identity enactments and multiple personality disorder: A sociocognitive perspective.
Spanos, N. P. (1994) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037//0033-2909.116.1.143 · Cited by 259
Dissociative trance and spirit possession: Challenges for cultures in transition
Bhavsar, V., Ventriglio, A., & Bhugra, D. K. (2016) · Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences · doi:10.1111/pcn.12425 · Cited by 55
Catatonic Schizophrenia: An International Comparative Study
Chandrasena, R. D. (1986) · The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1177/070674378603100313 · Cited by 44
A Cross-Cultural Study of the Possession-Trance in Singapore
Kua, E. H., Sim, L. P., & Chee, K. T. (1986) · Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.3109/00048678609158883 · Cited by 40
Possession States in Northern Sri Lanka
Somasundaram, D. J., Thivakaran, T., & Bhugra, D. K. (2008) · Psychopathology · doi:10.1159/000125558 · Cited by 28
Schneider's First Rank Symptoms: their Prevalence and Diagnostic Implications in an Asian Population
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Piñeros, M., Rosselli, D., & Calderon, C. (1998) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/s0277-9536(97)10094-6 · Cited by 23
Psychosocial Stressors that Precipitate Dissociative Trance Disorder in Singapore
Ng, B.-Y., & Chan, Y. (2004) · Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1080/j.1440-1614.2004.01379.x · Cited by 22
Scoping review on shamanistic trances practices
Marie, N., Lafon, Y., Bicego, A., Grégoire, C., Rousseaux, F., Bioy, A., Vanhaudenhuyse, A., & Gosseries, O. (2024) · BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies · doi:10.1186/s12906-024-04678-w · Cited by 21
“This offers them a particular status with an immediate and integrative response from society [28, 53–56].”
BackgroundInfluentialSurvey of psychiatric morbidity in a semi‐urban population in Sri Lanka
Wijesinghe, C. P., Dissanayake, S. A. W., & Dassanayake, P. V. L. N. (1978) · Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica · doi:10.1111/j.1600-0447.1978.tb03573.x · Cited by 21
Self-citationConversion Disorder: A Review Through the Prism of the Rational-Choice Theory of Neurosis
Rofé, Y., & Rofé, Y. (2013) · Europe’s Journal of Psychology · doi:10.5964/ejop.v9i4.621 · Cited by 16
Possession States: Approaches to Clinical Evaluation and Classification
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The rational-choice theory of neurosis: Unawareness and an integrative therapeutic approach.
Rofé, Y. (2010) · Journal of Psychotherapy Integration · doi:10.1037/a0019767 · Cited by 6
Carraturo, F., Santonicola, R., & Cella, S. (2025) · Clinical Psychological Science · doi:10.1177/21677026251365927 · Cited by 4
Possession States and Exorcism
Pattison, Ε. M. (1982) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-9251-8_12 · Cited by 4
Psychiatry in Sri Lanka: An Overview
Chandrasena, R. D. (1979) · Bulletin of the Royal College of Psychiatrists · doi:10.1192/s014007890000482x · Cited by 4
Salmons, P. H., & Clarke, D. J. (1987) · Psychiatry · doi:10.1080/00332747.1987.11024345 · Cited by 3
Zar Culture and Psychopathology
Rahim, A. (1999) · Cited by 1
A victim of an epidemic of possession syndrome.
Chandrashekar, C. R. (1981) · PubMed Central · Cited by 1
‘Chasing off the devil’ : medico-legal issues related to indigenous treatment of a child.
Senanayake, S. M. H. M. K. (2015) · Sri Lanka Journal of Forensic Medicine Science & Law · doi:10.4038/sljfmsl.v6i1.7756
Oyebode, F. (2008) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-7020-2885-4.10013-2
Cultural Countertransference of Young Clinicians Facing a State of Possession: A Cultural Case Study
Arminot, M., Ghazvini, L. H., Baubet, T., Moro, M. R., & Mouhoud, T. T. (2026) · Culture Medicine and Psychiatry · doi:10.1007/s11013-026-09976-1
Quand les esprits troublent les esprits : patients et cliniciens à la rencontre du monde invisible
Tallarico, S. (2019) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/fc1b631fz2149z413az91f3z736d2ca6bc04
Metadata
- Authors
- Wijesinghe, C. P., Dissanayake, S. A. W., & Mendis, N.
- Affiliations
- University of Colombo (LK)
- Venue
- Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 1976-06
- Volume
- 10
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 135-139
- ISSN
- 0004-8674 (ISSN-L)
- 1440-1614
- OpenAlex
- W2164657577
- Cited by
- 26
- References
- 9
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 1.84
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
- Locations
- Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs
- Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
- Keywords
- possession trance, ritual possession, mental illness, altered states of consciousness, semi-urban population, Sri Lanka
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aggression, Behavior, Mental Disorders, Catharsis, Fear, Female, Humans, Male, Religion and Psychology, Socioeconomic Factors, Sri Lanka, Syndrome, Urban Population
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