Dysesthesia, Witchcraft, and Conversion Reaction: A Case Successfully Treated With Psychotherapy

James R. Hillard, W. J.Kenneth Rockwell

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

An intelligent, well-educated black woman from the rural South, through an interaction of psychopathology and cultural background, experienced dysesthesia as a conversion reaction and came to believe that she was the victim of witchcraft. After neurological evaluation showed no abnormalities, she was successfully treated with conventional psychotherapy. Belief in hexing or root work is still alive today and should be inquired about in patients with unusual symptoms and an appropriate cultural background.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1742-1744
Number of pages3
JournalJAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association
Volume240
Issue number16
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 13 1978

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