Pilgrimage and Psychiatric Disorder: Two cases Reports

Introduction: Spiritual practices have the capacity to integrate different aspects of human experiences: emotional, mental, and physical. Pilgrimage is a spiritual practice. While certain aspects of pilgrimage are known to soothe anxiety and provide a sense of serenity, it is also established that the intensity of the experience can, in some cases, trigger or exacerbate pre-existing psychological disorders. Methods: We have chosen to illustrate our reflection through the analysis of two representative clinical vignettes. The discussion highlights the importance of a holistic and humanistic approach to the psychological realities of religious pilgrimages. Through the illustrations and syndromes described in the literature, it appears that travel, particularly to a place imbued with strong religious symbolism, can generate a variety of psychopathological disturbances The objective is not to pathologize such a significant spiritual experience but rather to better understand its implications to prevent avoidable suffering and support individuals in their personal and spiritual quest.