Investigation of a stigmatic

We report the case history of a 23-year-old Mexican-American female stigmatic whom we studied using psychophysiologic, psychologic, and laboratory measures. The stigmata have appeared often since 1971 and usually consist of bleeding through unbroken skin from her palms, feet, side, and head. The bleeding is painful and is usually (but not always) associated with religious ecstasy. Associated phenomena include oil exuding from her skin and her 2-year-old daughter receiving the stigmata. We discuss the case in detail and comment on the concept of stigmata in general. Methodologic difficulties and perplexing inconsistencies in this and similar cases leave us with many unanswered questions.