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Thursday, September 30, 2010

Exorcism in India

After trying doctors, as a last resort, people with debilitating ailments often consult the exorcist. In this clip, you get to see the case of a 15 year old girl, Munee, who seeks the help of the exorcist after battling with depression and strange behavior for 8 months. The exorcist puts her into a trance and communicates with the spirit possessing her. 

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Afflictions: Culture & Mental Illness in Indonesia (Trailer)


Here's another clip which depicts mental illness in Indonesia. This film is one of the first films on mental illness in the developing world.

From the youtube commentary:
Based on footage shot over 12 years in Bali and Java (Indonesia). The film explores the relationship between culture, mental illness, and personal experience. The role of traditional medicine vs. psychiatric treatment, family support, community rejection or acceptance, and beliefs about its causes are explored in three case studies. 

Monday, September 13, 2010

Indian Girl with Pica

This is a video of an Indian girl, Pakeeza, who has Pica. It's an eating disorder where the person has an appetite for non-nutritive substances like coal, soil, paper, etc.

Fortunately, Pakeeza has not shown any health problems, even though she eats pebbles and bricks.

Little research has been done on the causes of pica. However, recently cases of pica have been linked to obsessive- compulsive disorder.  

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Howard Dully's Journey: 'My Lobotomy'

Howard Dully's Journey: 'My Lobotomy'

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/bonus-video/lobotomist-howard-dully/

Following up from last week, this is an interview with Howard Dully, one of the youngest recipients of the ice- pick lobotomy. He was 12 years old at the time. Now, he is a 61 year old bus driver who went on a quest to find out details of what happened to him. He gives details in his critically well- received memoir "My Lobotomy".

In an interview, Howard Dully says: "I'll never know what I lost in those 10 minutes with Dr. Freeman and his ice pick. By some miracle it didn't turn me into a zombie, crush my spirit or kill me. But it did affect me. Deeply. Walter Freeman's operation was supposed to relieve suffering. In my case it did just the opposite..."

Several physicians have said that because Howard was so young when the operation occurred, it is possible that his brain had a better capacity to repair or compensate, compared to older patients who were operated on.


Here is a website detailing some other interesting cases, including Howard Dully's: 

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5014080