Reflexiones sobre posibles elementos anti-terapeúticos de las prácticas espiritistas

Resumen

A review is presented of research finding of studies about the anti-therapeutic elements of spiritists practices. The results suggest that spiristis bealers tend to refer clients with physical conditions to doctors. However, generally they do not refer clients with psychological disturbances to mental health professionals because they feel competent to treat these conditions. It seems also that most spiristis healers do not oppose that clients use medication for physical conditions. In the case of drugs for treating psychological conditions, the evidence is contradictory because some authors have found that spiritist healers orient clients not to take psychotropic drugs while others have found the opposite. In addition, the argument that spiritism promotes dependency and passivity is analyzed concluding that spiritist practices may be usedin both directions: to empower people or to make them more dependent. More research about anti-therapeutic elements of Puerto Rican Spiritism is recommended in order to have a better understanding of this folk system.