title: Thwasa and bewitchment.
abstract: Two mental states occurring in black people, thwasa and bewitchment, are differentiated from schizophrenia and catatonic schizophrenia. The aetiology is seen as arising from the relationship of the afflicted individual to his ancestors, i.e. either positive or negative. An important concept of analytical psychology is that the attitude of the ego can constellate positive or negative complexes form the unconscious. This concept is useful for a better understanding of thwasa and bewitchment.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D044383:Black People; D003469:Culture; D006801:Humans; D008273:Magic; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D013019:South Africa