Abstract

PIP: A project designed to intensify and structure communication between practitioners of "espiritismo," the major traditional healing system in Puerto Rico, and the public health system through seminars attended by practitioners of both systems is described. Spiritist practice in Puerto Rico is focused on the medium as a healer who can exorcise illness-causing spirits and assist clients to acquire enlightened spirit guides and protectors. Participating therapists included graduate nurses, doctors, social workers, and clinical psychologists. 9 of the 36 spiritists had university educations, while 27 had only elementary school educations. Although about 1/2 of the therapist group and about 1/4 of the spiritists dropped out of the program after a few months, those that remained appeared more receptive to communication; some members of each group initiated referrals of patients and consultations about their own problems with members of the other group. Several cases of such interaction are described, as is a referral unit which was developed to monitor and coordinate joint treatment of patients by the 2 systems.