基督教 信仰治療의 心理學的 考察 ᅳ 症例 追跡調査를 中心으로ㅡ

Psychological Considerations to the Christian Faith Healing

A a Presbyterian church in Seoul and a prayer house of Pentecostal church in Kyung-Ki province, the faith healing ceremonies were observed and two mentally ill persons who were atteneded to these ceremonies were under the psychiatric and psychological investigation. In the case of a Presbyterian church with the diagnosis of schizophrenia, erotic delusion and auditory hallucination had improved and disappeared for 2 months after faith healing, but aggravated after one month in the state of stopping the faith healing ceremonies. In the case of Pentecostal church with the diagnosis of somatization disorder, symptoms disappeared transiently and partially replaced by another sym ptom swithout complete recovery, but the patient became to have a positive attitude in interpersonal relationship, more advanced Christian belief and emotional stability. The method of faith healing was suggestive technique with the sequences of 1) exorcism, 2) spiritual operation, 3) going into the spiritual world in the former case, and group excitation which is leading to ecstasy state was the particular feature in the latter case. Above of all, the expectancy to the fa ith healer and emotional excitation were suggested to be the core factors of the transient improvement of symptoms. The concepts of disease in the patients and the healers were similar to the spirit intrusion among the shamanistic concepts of disease, or to the medieval demonology. The harmful effects by the Christian faith healing are somewhat prevailing in these days, so its problems were discussed. Then, furth er study with more patients of variable diseases is necessary