“Extreme religious scruples” or mystical delirium - religious: between christian devotion and psychopathology in Colombia, 1920-1960

Abstract

Objective: To understand the semiotics of mystical-religious delirium and the incidence of sociocultural content in the configuration of symptoms in modern psychiatry in Colombia, 1920-1960. Methodology: hermeneutic historical, research by analysis of a series of case histories of the old Madhouse Department of Antioquia and the Psychiatric Asylum San Isidro del Valle del Cauca. Results: Among the most frequent psychopathologies in which delusions demonstrated is the group of hobbies, mainly intermittent, manic depression and melancholy; followed by paranoid schizophrenia, and was also common in puerperal or postpartum psychosis; He also appeared in general paresis (neurosyphilis) and acute brain syndrome or acute confusional state, delirium given modern nosography. According to medical records, the exaltation of religious ideas comes together in a polymorph delirium. The most frequent symptoms were visual and auditory hallucinations, logorrea or talkativeness, insomnia, accompanied food negativism fear of being poisoned, psychomotor or hyperkinetic excitement, fits of rage controlled straitjacket and other means of containment, attempted suicide and trend the escape of the house, therefore it was considered dangerous to themselves and others.