TY - JOUR
T1 - Mysticism and psychosis
T2 - The fate of Ben Zoma
AU - Greenberg, David
AU - Witztum, Eliezer
AU - Buchbinder, Jacob T.
PY - 1992/1/1
Y1 - 1992/1/1
N2 - This paper examines the link between psychosis and mystical study through the cases of four young men who ‘entered the garden’ of Jewish mystical speculation and subsequently became psychotic. The role of such study as a precipitating factor is suggested, as three had no signs of disturbance prior to their mystical studies. All had suffered personal losses, and their choice of mystical texts and rites showed that their attraction to mysticism included a search for atonement for guilt they felt over their loss. The features of normative mysticism are presented with each case and it is apparent that hallucinations, grandiose and paranoid delusions, and social withdrawal, are phenomena that do not distinguish the psychotic from the mystic. Diagnosis of psychosis is made on the basis of duration of the state, ability to control entry into the state and the associated deterioration of habits, particularly the neglect of daily religious duties. These findings emphasize the need for the examining psychiatrist to be aware of the cultural background, despite the presence of seemingly florid psychopathology. 1992 The British Psychological Society
AB - This paper examines the link between psychosis and mystical study through the cases of four young men who ‘entered the garden’ of Jewish mystical speculation and subsequently became psychotic. The role of such study as a precipitating factor is suggested, as three had no signs of disturbance prior to their mystical studies. All had suffered personal losses, and their choice of mystical texts and rites showed that their attraction to mysticism included a search for atonement for guilt they felt over their loss. The features of normative mysticism are presented with each case and it is apparent that hallucinations, grandiose and paranoid delusions, and social withdrawal, are phenomena that do not distinguish the psychotic from the mystic. Diagnosis of psychosis is made on the basis of duration of the state, ability to control entry into the state and the associated deterioration of habits, particularly the neglect of daily religious duties. These findings emphasize the need for the examining psychiatrist to be aware of the cultural background, despite the presence of seemingly florid psychopathology. 1992 The British Psychological Society
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0026646202&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.2044-8341.1992.tb01702.x
DO - 10.1111/j.2044-8341.1992.tb01702.x
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0026646202
VL - 65
SP - 223
EP - 235
JO - Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice
JF - Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice
SN - 1476-0835
IS - 3
ER -