This paper presents findings from two sources of clinical materials. The first its a sample of 100 consecutive case series with syndrome of total or partial spirit possession or various distressful spiritual contacts, so called possession-spectrum syndrome (PSS) among a population of 1790 psychiatric outpatients who consulted this author during the period from May 1996 to April 1999. The second is 10 representative cases of PSS, of which 3 patients had taken 16 sessions of brief psycho-dynamic psychotherapy (BPP) on individual basis.
If diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria, these PSS syndrome covers a wide range of mental disorders: dissociative disorders, schizophrenic disorders, mood disorders, panic disorders, borderline personality disorders and organic mental disorders.
The psychoanalysis theory of personality with of the contracts superego, ego, & id is here translated into corresponding Taiwanese folk terminology as deities, persons, and ghosts. Based on insights gained from case studies with BPP, the Western individual-oriented concept of self v.s. Oriental social-oriented concept is furthermore elaborated in this paper with emphasis on the significance of 'relation' (quanxi) in Chinese culture.
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