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A Case of Stigmata

A Case of Stigmata Abstract Cases of religious stigmatization are extremely rare in the medical literature. We recently observed a 10½-year-old black Baptist girl who experienced religious stigmata periodically over a three-week period immediately preceding Easter Sunday 1972. Closest possible scrutiny made it unlikely that these lesions were self-induced. The child, who is intensely religious, comes from a large, lower-middle class family in a large city. Her physical examination results were entirely normal. We were unable to detect psychopathology except within the range of her religious experience, ie, indifference toward the bleeding and auditory hallucinations of a religious nature. Since no extensive psychological examination was possible, only the most general psychodynamic speculations are given. The recently described entity, psychogenic purpura, strikingly demonstrates the reality of mentally induced bleeding. References 1. Lifschutz JE: Hysterial stigmatization . Am J Psychiatry 114:527-531, 1957. 2. Hamilton F: A miracle at Uptergrove? MacLean's Magazine Sept 15:7-9, 39-42, 1950. 3. Ratnoff OD: Stigmata: Where mind and body meet, a study of autoerythrocyte sensitization . Med Times 97:150-163, 1969. 4. Gardner FH, Diamond LE: Autoerythrocyte sensitization: A form of purpura producing painful bruising following autosensitization to red cells in certain women . Blood 10:675-690, 1956. 5. Ratnoff OD, Agle DP: Psychogenic purpura: A re-evaluation of the syndrome of autoerythrocyte sensitization . Medicine 47:475-500, 1968.Crossref 6. Ratnoff OD, Agle DP: Autoerythrocyte sensitization: Psychiatric patterns in patients with a peculiar protracted purpura . Trans Assoc Am Physicians 74:290-299, 1961. 7. Agle DP, Ratnoff OD: Purpura as a psychogenic entity: A psychiatric study of autoerythrocyte sensitization . Arch Intern Med 109:685-694, 1962.Crossref 8. Agle DP, Ratnoff OD, Wasman M: Studies in autoerythrocyte sensitization: The induction of purpuric lesions by hypnotic suggestion . Psychosom Med 29:491-503, 1967.Crossref 9. Agle DP, Ratnoff OD, Wasman M: Conversion reactions in autoerythrocyte sensitization . Arch Gen Psychiatry 20:438-477, 1969.Crossref 10. Lord RA: A note on stigmata . Am Imago 14:299-301, 1957. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Archives of General Psychiatry American Medical Association

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References (11)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 1974 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
0003-990X
eISSN
1598-3636
DOI
10.1001/archpsyc.1974.01760080057009
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Abstract Cases of religious stigmatization are extremely rare in the medical literature. We recently observed a 10½-year-old black Baptist girl who experienced religious stigmata periodically over a three-week period immediately preceding Easter Sunday 1972. Closest possible scrutiny made it unlikely that these lesions were self-induced. The child, who is intensely religious, comes from a large, lower-middle class family in a large city. Her physical examination results were entirely normal. We were unable to detect psychopathology except within the range of her religious experience, ie, indifference toward the bleeding and auditory hallucinations of a religious nature. Since no extensive psychological examination was possible, only the most general psychodynamic speculations are given. The recently described entity, psychogenic purpura, strikingly demonstrates the reality of mentally induced bleeding. References 1. Lifschutz JE: Hysterial stigmatization . Am J Psychiatry 114:527-531, 1957. 2. Hamilton F: A miracle at Uptergrove? MacLean's Magazine Sept 15:7-9, 39-42, 1950. 3. Ratnoff OD: Stigmata: Where mind and body meet, a study of autoerythrocyte sensitization . Med Times 97:150-163, 1969. 4. Gardner FH, Diamond LE: Autoerythrocyte sensitization: A form of purpura producing painful bruising following autosensitization to red cells in certain women . Blood 10:675-690, 1956. 5. Ratnoff OD, Agle DP: Psychogenic purpura: A re-evaluation of the syndrome of autoerythrocyte sensitization . Medicine 47:475-500, 1968.Crossref 6. Ratnoff OD, Agle DP: Autoerythrocyte sensitization: Psychiatric patterns in patients with a peculiar protracted purpura . Trans Assoc Am Physicians 74:290-299, 1961. 7. Agle DP, Ratnoff OD: Purpura as a psychogenic entity: A psychiatric study of autoerythrocyte sensitization . Arch Intern Med 109:685-694, 1962.Crossref 8. Agle DP, Ratnoff OD, Wasman M: Studies in autoerythrocyte sensitization: The induction of purpuric lesions by hypnotic suggestion . Psychosom Med 29:491-503, 1967.Crossref 9. Agle DP, Ratnoff OD, Wasman M: Conversion reactions in autoerythrocyte sensitization . Arch Gen Psychiatry 20:438-477, 1969.Crossref 10. Lord RA: A note on stigmata . Am Imago 14:299-301, 1957.

Journal

Archives of General PsychiatryAmerican Medical Association

Published: Feb 1, 1974

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