Jerusalem syndrome

Jerusalem syndrome is a rare mental illness characterized by pathological symptoms based on religious themes, accompanied by psychosis or delusions. The disease was first clinically described by Hermann Heinz, an Israeli specialist in psychology, in 1930. However, the first signs of the syndrome were described by the traveler Felix Faber during the Middle Ages. In addition, many cases of the syndrome were recorded among tourists in the 19th century.

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Epidemiology

According to statistics, this hospital admits almost 60 people a year, and there are times when the clinic has no available beds.

Both men and women are subject to religious delirium. The former identify themselves with Jesus Christ, the latter with his companion the Virgin Mary.

The statistics are based only on those patients who behaved aggressively in public places. Doctors believe that there are many more people who consider themselves messiahs, but their behavior does not threaten others and they are not placed in special institutions.

Causes of Jerusalem syndrome

Many tourists may be susceptible to the syndrome. But, as studies have shown, some of the pilgrims who came to meet the shrine had already had mental problems before. About 90% of such people were identified and only 10% did not have such problems.

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Symptoms of Jerusalem syndrome

Some pilgrims and tourists with a fine mental organization experienced extreme delight when meeting the Promised Land. A person, while examining the sights, completely imbued with the shrine, experienced the extreme stage of pleasure. The Jerusalem syndrome is expressed by the fact that people proclaim themselves to be messiahs and prophets, whom higher powers sent to Earth to perform special tasks. At the same time, a demonstration of specific behavior occurs.

A hospital has been set up in Israel to receive such patients. They become victims of their own hypersensitivity.

In general, the symptoms of this pathology are found in people of deep faith, for whom the meeting with the city of dreams, where biblical events took place, was especially significant and long-awaited.

Deterioration can occur if the traveler is very overexcited. Arriving in Israel, such a person can become a prisoner of religious ecstasy. Such a person, arriving as part of an excursion group, has no desire to contact other people and tries to be alone.

Another characteristic feature of religious obsession is loss of appetite and sleep. Jerusalem syndrome made itself known when travelers performed ritual ablutions with changing into special clothes. Then, returning to their rooms, they often wrapped themselves in sheets and began to "preach."

This condition does not last long, and after a few days, people could not remember what happened to them. Of course, the patient is embarrassed and feels ashamed of his behavior during the time when he was carrying out his mission. The first signs

The first symptoms of Jerusalem syndrome can be very diverse. There is a case described when an American tourist decided that he was Samson. The biblical hero, due to his superhuman strength, was called furious. According to biblical legend, Samson defeated a mighty lion by tearing its huge jaws. He could defeat a huge number of enemies without weapons.

A tourist who called himself Samson decided that he had been given the same strength. As a form of training, he decided to remove several stones from the Western Wall, believing that they were not positioned correctly.

As a result, the impostor was taken to a specialized clinic. Then he behaved violently in a mental hospital, doctors made a lot of efforts to calm him down and treat him. Thanks to adequate treatment, the patient fully recovered and went home.

The main symptoms of Jerusalem syndrome include:

• isolation from people, the desire to visit shrines alone;
• creation of sacred garments by wrapping with white cloths;
• abstinence from sleep and food;
• identification with characters from biblical stories;
• depersonalization;
• delusions associated with religious ideas;
• agitation, hyperkinesia;
• attacks of megalomania;
• minimum of emotions;
• attacks of hysteria;
• derealization;
• loud preaching.

The greatest danger is the combination of schizophrenia in various forms with hysterical personality and religious attitude.

In addition to delirium, those suffering from schizoid states experienced hallucinations of various kinds; hysterical faces developed aphonia with seizures and impaired motor activity.

The greatest number of such cases occur at the Western Wall, where one can see, in addition to believers praying, people throwing hysterics.

Forms

The behavior of people suffering from Jerusalem syndrome is defiant, demonstrating to others their divine origin. They majestically march to the place of reading sermons and prayers.

The State of Israel is visited by people of various religions, especially Christian and Jewish. Experts distinguish three types of Jerusalem syndrome:

• psychotic;
• premorbid;
• discrete.

Representatives of the first type have psychiatric disorders. Such people often have a history of psychopathology with outbreaks of religious delusions and mania.

The second type are people who visited Jerusalem with faith in the miraculous power and the second coming of Christ. They may suffer from headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, mental agitation. Their behavior is demonstrative, but does not carry physical aggression. They are in a borderline state - not dangerous, but they do not act quite adequately. Having made a toga from a white sheet, they majestically march to holy places to deliver a sermon. Guides, hotel workers, police should not be afraid and involve psychiatrists - these people are safe.

The third type are absolutely healthy people without psychopathologies. However, the very presence on the sacred land causes them anxiety, overexcitement. Tourists fall into a state of hypnosis and begin to sing songs and read verses from the Bible.

The last stage of Jerusalem fever is the most common and passes quickly after returning home.

Diagnostics of Jerusalem syndrome

The syndrome can be determined based on the clinical picture and the symptoms listed above.

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Treatment of Jerusalem syndrome

Jerusalem syndrome is treated with antipsychotic drugs, the use of which is stopped after the disappearance of the described symptoms. However, it is important to distinguish the syndrome from the onset of other mental illnesses, which require long-term maintenance treatment.

First of all, the patient needs to leave the place where he experienced Jerusalem fever. It is necessary to try to relieve psychophysical tension. This is necessary to reduce emotional stress and increase the mobilization of internal human resources.

If Jerusalem syndrome is severe, the patient needs inpatient treatment in a psychiatric hospital.

To treat acute stress reactions, specialists use neuroleptic drugs of different groups, the action of which is aimed at blocking the feeling of anxiety and fear, psychomotor overexcitement. Chlorpromazine or haloperidol drugs are prescribed as intramuscular injections. If the mental state is not so serious, the patient may be given sedatives, such as diazepam, chlordiazepoxide.

Further therapy depends on the patient's condition. If the patient has hysterical seizures, hallucinations, delusional fantasies, stupor, neuroleptics are administered intravenously using droppers.

Treatment of such reactions should not be limited to banal relief of the attack. A person with Jerusalem syndrome needs both general strengthening and rehabilitation therapy.

It is necessary to carry out psychological correction to alleviate reactive psychosis in the acute phase. Doctors influence the patient by suggestion and persuasion. Techniques such as cognitive and rational psychotherapy have proven themselves well. They verbalize and work through memories that are traumatic for the patient. This helps to reduce affective tension and structure the emotional state, and the patient's purposeful activity is forced.

Prevention

There are no special preventive recommendations. No one is completely sure that, having visited such holy places, Jerusalem syndrome will not happen to him. Before and during the trip, it is necessary to remain calm, be positive, not to fall into hysteria, people prone to overexcitement can take sedatives.

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Forecast

The prognosis for Jerusalem syndrome is favorable in most cases.