Mourning, Mummification and Living with the Dead

Gardner, Alan; Pritchard, Michael

doi:10.1192/bjp.130.1.23

Cited by 14 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…In recent years, similar cases have been described in the literature [29,30]. Mummification can be regarded as the peak of delusion in the natural history of a case of folie à deux, in which the death of a beloved relative is denied [22], as noted by Freud, who remarked that such intense denial is the trademark of a hallucinatory wishful psychosis [31]. The subject's behavior in Case 1 suggests that something approaching this state was reached.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In 1965, Gorer used the term mummification to refer not to the natural transformation of bodily remains, but to a form of unlimited mourning or pathological grief [21]. Subsequently, Gardner and Pritchard described six cases in which bereaved individuals secretly refused not only to abandon the personal belongings of the deceased relative, but also lived with the corpse for a period ranging from 1 week to 10 years [22]. In these cases, the mummification or preservation of grief appeared to be literal (i.e., real) as well as metaphorical.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The mourning process and “living with the dead”: Two case reports and a review of the literature

Bosco

Tattoli

Vella

et al. 2020

Journal of Forensic Sciences

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Nowadays, the finding of a mummified body preserved by chance in a domestic environment is an occasional but not rare event in urban society [1]. Mummification can maintain intact a dead body, or parts of it, in a warm dry environment with an air current, such as in closed apartments [2]. The time of death is often difficult to estimate, requiring a multidisciplinary team of forensic pathologists, geneticists, entomologists, and possibly forensic psychiatrists. Mummification usually occurs in about 12 weeks, and the early stages may involve putrefactive changes. Elderly people are at greater risk of dying suddenly and unnoticed by others [3,4]. Victims' corpses can remain undiscovered in their homes for several months or years after their death, being well preserved if environmental conditions promote their desiccation [5]. The delayed discovery is often explained by the social isolation of the subjects when alive, with limited contact with other people and society. In addition, the absence of family support and poor neighborly relationships can worsen their social living conditions [6,7].

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The mourning process and “living with the dead”: Two case reports and a review of the literature

Bosco

Tattoli

Vella

et al. 2020

Journal of Forensic Sciences

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“…When the son died, the mother preserved his body intact until its discovery two days later. According to the Authors , mummification can be regarded as the peak of delusion in the natural history of a case of folie à deux . The case we describe, that is in agreement with this interpretation, is even more extraordinary when one considers the length of time that elapsed before the bodies of the sisters were discovered, 18 months after their deaths.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Faith, Folie à Famille, and Mummification: A Brief Review of the Literature and a Rare Case Report

Catanesi

Punzi

Rodriguez³

et al. 2013

Journal of Forensic Sciences

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Folie à deux is a rare clinical syndrome characterized by the transference of delusional ideas from one person to one or more other people in close association with the primary affected patient. Mummification indicates the preservation of the corpse of a person for a variable period of time. A brief review of the literature in this field is presented, and an exceptional case is described, characterized by the association of both these rare phenomena. The case is an example of folie à fammille which developed out of a condition of extreme religiousness and seclusion of an entire family. The shared psychosis led to the horrible death of some of the family members, while the last surviving member of the family lived for more than a year and a half with their mummified remains. The Judge commissioned a forensic psychiatry assessment to verify the survivor's ability to bear witness. The development of the psychiatric syndrome and its consequences are extensively discussed.

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“…Abandoned and isolated people are particularly vulnerable, thus, mummified corpses have been found even ten or thirteen years later. 6 – 9 There are also reports of tribal rituals, which demand living with the dead inside homes, some rare events that may have only anthropological or historical importance. 10…”

Section: The Setting and Mass Media Coveragementioning

confidence: 99%

Occultism and playing with the dead: When rituals go wrong

et al. 2022

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There have been at least two deaths in Albania linked to ritualistic/satanic practices, which have provoked considerable public concern. Until the 1990s, Albania was strictly atheist. However, since then some religious sects have been establishing themselves. In fact, satanic killings and ritualistic deaths are rare in Albania. We describe two such cases that occurred in 2020 along with consideration of the psychological profiles of perpetrators and victims. The first case involved two deaths: a mother and daughter whose bodies were found near each other, with another daughter in attendance who was diagnosed as clearly psychotic, and legally did not face any charge thereafter. This daughter was witnessing the decomposition of her sister’s mummified corpse. She said she was waiting for the “Messiah” to resurrect her. Apparently, while performing ritualistic ceremonies, the daughter and her mother refused food until the mother died from starvation. It was at that point that police broke into the house and discovered the situation. The second case involved a young woman who was found dead, apparently following a trivial infection. Her body (abdomen and dorsum) had written symbols on it, suggesting Satanism and the occult. A detailed analysis of the death scenes and crime scenes provide valuable data for further proceedings, but psychological evaluation of the perpetrators may prove more difficult, and more so where the victims have died.

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Mourning, Mummification and Living with the Dead

Cited by 14 publications

References 2 publications

The mourning process and “living with the dead”: Two case reports and a review of the literature

The mourning process and “living with the dead”: Two case reports and a review of the literature

Faith, Folie à Famille, and Mummification: A Brief Review of the Literature and a Rare Case Report

Occultism and playing with the dead: When rituals go wrong

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