Jpn J Psychiatry Neurol. 1989 Mar; 43(1): 19-27.

The current situation in regard to the delusion of possession in Japan.

Iida J.

Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan.

A study of possession was made on 1,029 inpatients (male 562, female 467) in Japanese mental hospitals. The results were: (1) The incidence of delusion of possession in the sample was 20.7% for the sample as a whole. (2) As to the contents of delusion of possession, possession by a god was most common. In regard to the difference between the sexes, females were significantly more likely to be possessed by a god than were males. (3) As to the difference between the possession group and the non-possession group, religion, fortuneteller contact, age and diagnosis were significant. (4) As to the characteristics by district in regard to the incidence of delusion of possession, cases of possession were very few in Tokyo and many in Okinawa.