Mystical and mythological believes not only limited to psychiatric diseases? A dynamic overview of medicine.

Mythological and supernatural beliefs are not limited to psychiatric illnesses but are found across all fields of medicine. Conditions such as porphyria with photosensitivity have been linked to vampirism, holoprosencephaly with facial deformity to cyclops folktales, epilepsy to demonic possession, and pellagra to werewolves. The authors argue that healthcare providers should address these mythological associations in managing all types of illnesses, not only psychiatric ones.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The concept of supernatural forces has always been part of medicine and allied science. These beliefs play a pivotal role in the patient-healthcare bond and disease awareness. Traditionally it was believed that psychiatric illnesses are mostly linked with mythologies and paranormal beings since most mental diseases appear to be lunatic and have no rational ground. Paradoxical to this conventional belief we discovered that mythological beliefs have penetrated all fields of medicine. Porphyria, hepatomegaly presenting with photosensitivity, are associated with "vampirism." Similarly, holoprosencephaly, a congenital anomaly presenting facial deformity is thought to be cyclops folktales. Epilepsy though is simply a neurologic illness believed to be "demonic possession." Patients of pellagra, a deficiency of vitamin B3 are thought to be werewolves. Thus, we found the presence of mythological association in all types of illnesses. We expect our healthcare infrastructure to not limit their management to counseling patients suffering from psychiatric illnesses only.