Journal of Educational, Health and Community Psychology
Vol 13 No 1 March 2024

Dissociative Symptoms Among Individuals Affected by Mass Psychogenic Illness: A Study on the Indonesian Island of Nias

Michael Seno Rahardanto (Widya Mandala Catholic University Surabaya)
Jaka Santosa Sudagijono (Widya Mandala Catholic University Surabaya)
Johannes Dicky Susilo (Widya Mandala Catholic University Surabaya)
Simon Simon (Widya Mandala Catholic University Surabaya)
Nurul Hartini (Airlangga University)
Rahkman Ardi (Airlangga University)



Article Info

Publish Date
22 Mar 2024

Abstract

Mass psychogenic illness is a phenomenon that occurs every year in Indonesia, mainly in schools and factories. In the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, this phenomenon is classified as dissociative disorders. However, the Indonesian diagnostic manual of mental disorders (the PPDGJ) classified the phenomenon as a conversion disorder. The confounding diagnosis will likely result in less effective and less humane interventions. This study aims to determine the symptoms experienced by individuals experiencing mass psychogenic illness, therefore contributing to the current literature regarding the proper diagnostic of the spirit possession. Samples (N=55) were assessed using the Dissociative Disorder Interview Schedule based on DSM-5. The Beck Depression Inventory and Wong-Baker Face Rating Scale are also used to supplement the data. Findings indicate that the subjects fit the diagnostic criterion of several disorders, namely somatization (experienced by 98.18% of individuals), major depression (49%), trance (69%), childhood physical abuse (35%), and borderline personality disorder (47.2%). However, only 14.54% of subjects fulfilled the diagnostic criterion of dissociative amnesia, 7.27% for diagnostic fugue, 3.63% for depersonalization/derealization, 5% for dissociative identity disorder, 11% for other specified and unspecified dissociative disorder. These findings showed that mass psychogenic illness is likely the manifestation of distinct and separate mental disorders, notably that of somatization disorder, trance, borderline personality disorder, and major depressive disorder, and exclusively those of dissociative disorders.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

Psychology

Publisher

Subject

Education Public Health

Description

Journal of Educational, Health, and Community Psychology (JEHCP) published an article, and empirical study that have originality, novelty and fill the gap of knowledge, that focused on educational psychology, health psychology and community psychology. JEHCP is an open access peer reviewed, ...