The spirits, Ngeb [corrected] and the social suppression of memory: a complex clinical case from Bali

Offers a clinical case study of a 53-year-old rice farmer ("Nyoman") in Bali suffering from paranoid schizophrenia & chronic posttraumatic stress disorder with psychotic features. Data obtained from inpatient records, observations, & interviews, 1984-2004, detail Nyoman's treatment for "sorcery-induced illness & weak nerves" through a traditional healer & subsequent treatment with antipsychotic medications at a state mental hospital. Differences between the clinical manifestations of Nyoman's disorders & those exhibited by Western patients are discussed & the influence of factors specific to Balinese culture on his illness is examined. Cultural explanations for Nyoman's symptoms & the meaning & severity of his symptoms in relation to cultural norms are also considered, along with cultural dimensions of the clinician-patient relationship. Refs: yes FR: K. Hyatt Stewart. References. K. Hyatt Stewart