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Doctoral Thesis
DOI
https://doi.org/10.11606/T.5.2005.tde-12042005-160501
Document
Author
Full name
Alexander Moreira de Almeida
E-mail
Institute/School/College
Knowledge Area
Date of Defense
Published
São Paulo, 2004
Supervisor
Committee
Lotufo Neto, Francisco (President)
Caixeta, Leonardo Ferreira
Dalgalarrondo, Paulo
Menezes, Paulo Rossi
Vallada Filho, Homero Pinto
Title in Portuguese
"Fenomenologia das experiências mediúnicas, perfil e psicopatologia de médiuns espíritas"
Keywords in Portuguese
classificação
epidemiologia
espiritismo
espiritualismo
etnologia
psicologia
religião e psicologia
transtornos dissociativos
transtornos psicóticos
Abstract in Portuguese
Objetivos: Definir o perfil sociodemográfico e a saúde mental em médiuns espíritas,bem como a fenomenologia e o histórico de suas experiências mediúnicas. Métodos: 115 médiuns em atividade foram selecionados aleatoriamente de centros espíritas de São Paulo. Numa primeira etapa foram aplicados os questionários: sociodemográfico e de atividade mediúnica, SRQ (Self-Report Psychiatric Screening Questionnaire) e EAS (Escala de Adequação Social). Todos os médiuns com provável psicopatologia pelo SRQ (n=12) e o mesmo número de controles foram entrevistados com base no DDIS (Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule), SCAN (Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry) e através de uma entrevista qualitativa. Resultados: 76,5% da amostra eram mulheres, idade média 48,1 ± 10,7 anos, 2,7% de desemprego e 46,5% de escolaridade superior. Eram espíritas, em média, há 16,2 ± 12,7 anos e possuíam uma média de 3,5 tipos de mediunidade (incorporação 72%; psicofonia 66%; vidência 63%; audiência 32%; psicografia 23%). Cada modalidade mediúnica era exercitada entre 7 a 14 vezes por semana em média, não havendo diferença entre os sexos. 7,8% dos médiuns ficaram acima do ponto de corte para transtorno psiquiátrico menor pelo SRQ e a amostra alcançou uma pontuação de 1,85 ± 0,33 na EAS. Houve correlação significativa entre os escores de adequação social e de sintomas psiquiátricos pelo SRQ (r= 0,38 p<0,001). Não houve correlação entre a intensidade de atividade mediúnica e os escores SRQ e adequação social. Os médiuns diferiam das características de portadores de transtornos de identidade dissociativa e possuíam uma alta média (4) de sintomas Schneiderianos de primeira ordem para esquizofrenia, mas estes não se relacionaram aos escores do SRQ ou do EAS. Foram identificados quatro grupos de relatos de surgimento da mediunidade: sintomas isolados na infância ou na vida adulta, quadros de oscilação do humor e durante o curso de médiuns. A psicofonia/incorporação possui como pródromos uma sensação de presença, sintomas físicos diversos e sentimentos e sensações não reconhecidos como próprios do indivíduo. Posteriormente, é sentida uma pressão na garganta e mecanicamente começa-se a verbalizar um discurso não planejado. Aintuição foi caracterizada pelo surgimento de pensamentos ou imagens não reconhecidos como próprios. A audição e a vidência se caracterizaram pela percepção de imagens ou vozes no espaço psíquico interno ou objetivo externo. A psicofonia só ocorria no centro espírita, as demais modalidades mediúnicas ocorriam tanto dentro como fora dos centros espíritas Conclusões: Os médiuns estudados evidenciaram alto nível socioeducacional, baixa prevalência de transtornos psiquiátricos menores e razoável adequação social. A mediunidade provavelmente se constitui numa vivência diferente do transtorno de identidade dissociativa. A maioria teve o início de suas manifestações mediúnicas na infância, e estas, atualmente, se caracterizam por vivências de influência ou alucinatórias, que não necessariamente implicam num diagnóstico de esquizofrenia.¶
Title in English
Phenomenology of Mediumistic Experiences, Profile and Psychopathology of Spiritist Mediums
Keywords in English
classification
dissociative disorders
epidemiology
ethnology
psychology
psychotic disorders
religion and psychology
spiritism
spiritualism
Abstract in English
Objectives: This study describes the social-demographic profile and psychopathology of Spiritist mediums, history and phenomenology of their mediumistic experiences. Methods: One hundred fifteen actively practicing medium subjects (27 male and 88 female) were randomly selected from different Kardecist Spiritist Centers in the City of Sao Paulo, Brazil. In the early phase of the study, all participants completed social-demographic and mediumistic activity questionnaires, SRQ (Self-Report Psychiatric Screening Questionnaire) and SAS (Social Adjustment Scale). All medium subjects (n = 12) identified by the SRQ with probable psychopathology, and a control group (12 healthy subjects) were submitted to interview using: the DDIS(Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule), SCAN (Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry), and a qualitative interview. Results: Females were 76.5% of the sample, sample mean age was 48.1 ± 10.7 years; 2.7% of the subjects were currently unemployed; and 46% of the sample had a college degree. Participants indicated being Spiritist for an average of 16.2 ±12.7 years, having a mean of 3.5 different types of mediumistic abilities (receiving/embodiment of an spiritual entity 72%; seeing 63%; hearing 32%; and automatic writing 23%). Each mediumistic modality was carried out an average of 7 to 14 times a week with no gender difference; 7.8% of the medium subjects exhibited a minor psychiatric disorder according to the SRQ, and the entire sample scored 1.85 ± 0,33 points in the SAS. There was a significant correlation between social adjustment scores and SRQ psychiatric symptoms (r= 0,38 p<0,001). There was no significant correlation between the degree of mediumistic activity and either SRQ or SAS scores. Medium subjects differed from dissociative identity disorders subjects and displayed 4 Schneiderian first rank symptoms for schizophrenia that were unrelated to either the SRQ or SAS scores. Four distinct modes of emergence of mediumistic symptoms were recorded: isolated symptoms during childhood, isolated symptoms during adulthood, spontaneous mood fluctuations, and formal courses in mediumistic ability development. A full mediumistic trance process begins with: sensing another presence, experiencing a variety of physical symptoms and feelings, and experiencing vibratory frequencies which subjects attributed to an external source, or spiritual entity. Subsequently, subjects begin to feel pressure in the area of the throat and an unplanned speech is mechanically voiced. Intuition is characterized by the emergence of thoughts and/or images not recognized by the subjects as their own. Hearing and seeing are characterized as the awareness of images and voices within the internal psychic space or as an external object. Full mediumistic trance was recorded exclusively within the Spiritist Centers however all other mediumistic experiences were recorded both inside and outside these centers. Conclusions: The medium subjects included in this analysis displayed evidences of having a high social-educational level, a low prevalence rate of minor psychiatric symptoms and a sound level of social adjustment. Mediumistic trance is very possibly an experience other than a Dissociative Identity Disorder. The majority of the subjects experienced the onset of mediumistic experiences during childhood, and the mediumistic process was characterized by experiences of replacement of the ego mind, or visual and/or auditory hallucinations not necessarily related to a definite diagnosis of schizophrenia.
 
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mediunidade.pdf (2.61 Mbytes)
Publishing Date
2005-04-23
 
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