Do you know Jerusalem syndrome?

Jerusalem syndrome is a psychological disorder that affects tourists who visit Jerusalem. and those who live there. This alteration resembles psychosis. In more severe cases, delusions and hallucinations may occur.

Usually, People who have this syndrome identify with biblical characters and they act by imitating what they know about them. Some of the characters with whom they usually identify are Moses, King David, Jesus of Nazareth and John the Baptist. Men tend to emulate masculine characters, while women tend to emulate feminine ones.

The religion professed also influences, since Christians often identify with characters from the New Testamentwhile the Jews, for whom this book is not part of their beliefs, imitate characters from the Old Testament.

Why Jerusalem?

The most touristic place in Israel is the Western Wall, also known as the Western Wall. This is located in the city of Jerusalem. Every day, thousands of visitors go to the wall at any time, whether to pray, take photographs or attend a ceremony or demonstration. The historical and spiritual environment that is experienced is so strong that it can be the trigger for this syndrome.

Many of the people who visit are attracted in search of supernatural experiences, which can be spiritual or religious. They are attracted by the atmosphere that is created, especially after midnight. By imitating biblical characters, l People who suffer from this syndrome go through the streets of the city of Jerusalem preaching in public. They also usually change their clothing for tunics and sheets.

The Jerusalem syndrome

The first to clinically identify Jerusalem syndrome was Dr. Yair Bar-El, a psychiatrist. After examining more than 400 tourists who had been declared insane, mostly Jews and Christians, the doctor found some common characteristics, so he was able to identify the symptoms that characterize this syndrome.

This syndrome is defined as a hysterical dissociative disorder. Patients adopt another personality that, later, they will not be able to remember. The spiritual atmosphere of the ancient city of Jerusalem, characterized by religion, history, ideology and mythology, is enriched by the events that have occurred there: wars, crusades, massacres, etc., leaving no one indifferent. the people who visit it.

Jerusalem syndrome has been compared to Florence or Stendhal syndrome. This was detected among tourists who went to Florence and who acted in a strange and irrational way. These tourists presented vertigo, confusion, tremors, depression and even hallucinations after so many works of art in the same place. However, This syndrome is caused by the beauty of works of art and cities, while the Jerusalem syndrome is due to religion.

Types of patients with Jerusalem syndrome

Bar-El’s (2000) working group identified different types of patients based on their clinical experience.

Type 1

The first type would be the most common, since it is the one that usually develops in most cases. This group is made up of people who have been diagnosed with a psychotic disorder before visiting Israel. Furthermore, in type 1, we could find delusional ideas that would have motivated these people to travel to Jerusalem in order to complete “their mission.” Furthermore, within this first group, we could make a subdivision between 4 subtypes:

Subtype 1: when they identify with a biblical character or have the conviction that they are that character. Subtype 2: when they identify with a religious or even political idea. Subtype 3: when they attribute healing properties to holy places. Subtype 4: when they attribute healing properties to holy places. Family problems culminate in psychotic episodes.

Type 2

This group would be made up of those patients who have idiosyncratic ideas and also show other psychological problems such as some psychotic decompensation in his personality. However, in this type of case, strange ideas and thoughts do not reach psychotic or delusional dimensions; rather, obsessive ideas tend to appear. This type of applies to two kinds of people:

To individuals belonging to a group. To solitary people.

Type 3

These are people who have never been diagnosed with any psychotic disorder that could have any relationship with the symptoms of Jerusalem syndrome.. In these cases, they are usually diagnosed after having suffered an acute psychotic break when they arrive in the city. Arguably, this would be the most “pure” way to develop Jerusalem syndrome, as there is no psychiatric history.

Main diagnostic criteria for Jerusalem syndrome type 3

First criterion: the person has no history of psychiatric disorders. He has had no psychotic episodes, no significant problems related to work, family or substance use. The subjects can be defined as healthy and without any mental disorder.

Second criterion: The person arrives in Jerusalem without a special mission or specific purpose. They usually arrive with friends or family, often as part of a tour group.

Third criterion: Upon arriving in Jerusalem, the individual has an acute psychotic reaction that develops in seven stages:

Anxiety, agitation, nervousness and tension. Willingness to separate from the group to tour Jerusalem alone. Need to purify oneself: obsession with compulsively taking baths. Preparing and wearing a white robe. Need to sing or shout out loud psalms, verses from the Bible or spiritual hymns. Go in a procession or march to a bleeding place. Give a sermon publicly in one of the sacred places in the city of Jerusalem.

Symptoms accompanying Jerusalem syndrome

Tourists who have this syndrome begin to feel nervous or anxious for no apparent reason.suddenly something happened

After a few days they return to “reality”, many with shame. They cannot explain what happened to them and regret their extravagant behavior. It is thought that those who suffer from the syndrome arrived in Jerusalem predisposed and, once there, the latent syndrome is awakened.

Have you visited Jerusalem? If you visit it and If you find people preaching on the street or washing in a fountain, don’t think they are crazy.. Maybe they have Jerusalem syndrome, or maybe you can experience it firsthand.

Treatment of Jerusalem syndrome

In the case of type 3, made up of people without a psychiatric history, there seems to be a good spontaneous recovery in less than a week, that is, its recovery occurs naturally. Despite the existence of a high rate of spontaneous recovery, the treatment would consist, according to Bar-El’s experience, of:

Use minor tranquilizers and/or melatonin.Improve and strengthen family relationships and facilitate return to the travel group.Psychologically assist the person at the time of crisis.

In the most serious cases, such as type 1, which have a psychiatric history, longer hospital stay may be necessary and the most appropriate treatment would be similar to that received by people with any psychotic disorder.

In the case of the group of patients belonging to type 2, there is the option of opting for a treatment focused on comorbid symptoms in order to achieve stability, so that the symptoms associated with the syndrome subside in a matter of days.

Finally, Bar-El and his team of researchers assure that the prevention that can be carried out by tourist guides in Jerusalem is important, so that they are trained in the detection of possible symptoms associated with said syndrome.

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