The power of the divine: religion, rituals, and healing in Greece

Religious healing plays a significant role in mental health in Greece, where supernatural explanations for mental illness, such as the evil eye and spirit possession, remain common. Despite access to mainstream psychology, patients and families often turn to religious healers, perceiving ritual healing as effective for alleviating symptoms of mental distress. While studies indicate ritual participation can be efficacious, more research is needed to examine its efficacy for mental disorders. Ethnographic methods can help understand how attendees perceive healing, and biomedical assessments can reveal physiological changes.

Study at a glance

Abstract

ABSTRACT The present critical review examines the role of religious healing in mental health in Greece. After describing the history of psychiatry in Greece, and the close links between medicine and religion, we discuss the role of various ritual contexts in healing mental distress. Findings suggest that supernatural explanatory models of mental illness, such as the evil eye and spirit possession still appear to be prevalent in many parts of Greece. Despite the availability of mainstream psychology, patients and their families commonly resort to religious healers. The perception is that ritual healing is effective in alleviating symptoms of mental distress. While studies suggest that ritual participation can be efficacious, there is a need for future research to examine the efficacy of religious healing for mental disorders. Ethnographic methods will play a significant role in understanding how ritual attendees perceive healing and biomedical assessments elucidate physiological changes.