Rom J Leg Med [25] 211-216 [2017] DOI: 10.4323/rjlm.2017.211 © 2017 Romanian Society of Legal Medicine 211 FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY Demonology and suicide - Forensic implications Veronica Scripcaru 1 , Diana Bulgaru Iliescu 2,3 , Cristina Furnică 2,3,* , Andrei Scripcaru 1 , Petronela (Polixenia) Nistor 4 _________________________________________________________________________________________ Abstract: During the history of humanity, regardless the socio-cultural beliefs, the idea of demonic possession has been a perpetual feature marked by the evolution of civilization. ere is presented a case of a monk found by the Romanian police driving a car on public roads without holding a driving license, diagnosed with acute psychotic disorder with schizophrenia symptoms. e forensic psychiatric assessment concludes that he lacks the mental capacity to drive vehicles, has suicidal ideation, but it is our personal belief that he will continue to defy this decision, as he considers himself sane. e patient denies the occurrence of any psycho-productive phenomena, and shows no signs of altered mnesic function. e forensic psychiatric assessment concludes that he lacks the mental capacity to drive vehicles, but it is our personal belief that he will continue to defy this decision, as he considers himself sane. e authors reviewed several current scientific approaches to demonic possession including psychodynamic, humanistic, behavioural, cognitive, biological, mixed, psychoanalytical perspectives, concluding that the behaviour of such patients’ takes on different forms depending on their primary organic disorder. e psychiatrist’s competences supplemented by his/her own belief in religious values influence the formulation and therapy of demonic possession phenomena. Key Words: demonic possession, schizophrenia, suicide. 1) “Sf. Spiridon” Emergency County Hospital Iasi, Romania 2) “Grigore T Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Iasi, Romania * Corresponding author: E-mail: cristinafurnica@yahoo.com 3) Institute of Forensic Medicine, Iasi, Romania 4) “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University, Faculty of Orthodox eology, Iasi, Romania INTRODUCTION Current specialized literature considers demonological phenomenology (possession or trance) as a borderline phenomenon, i.e. a phenomenon precariously balanced on the thin line between culturality/ aculturality and scientific knowledge. Certain cultures (Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka, Japan, Haiti) consider demonic possession an intrinsic part of social behaviour, with an important spiritual counterpart according to modern therapeutic standards; unlike European cultures which consider possession a form of mental disorder and spiritual alteration in subjects belonging to polytheistic societies that believe in reincarnation and spiritualism [1]. e history of medicine, particularly that of psychiatry, is extremely familiar with the debate between scientific proselytism and secular psychiatry, which celebrates humanitarian innovations while protecting the therapies of the various mental illnesses from the paternalistic and sometimes superstitious models of Christian faiths [2]. On the other hand, the current Romanian socio- cultural environment is auspicious to the development of borderline personalities, especially in closed communities. A psychiatric system operating on the basis of criteria specific to the beginning of the 20 th century is unable to follow and treat a mental patient outside the hospital. Once discharged from the psychiatric wards, the patients, either returning home or vagabonds, tend to ignore or are otherwise unable to continue taking the prescribed medication; their progress also oſten unrecorded by