Jerusalem Syndrome

Police in Jerusalem have a unit set up to deal with what psychologists call Jerusalem Syndrome. About 35 tourists are admitted each year to the hospital for suddenly thinking they are characters out of the Bible or prophets, once they begin walking around the Biblical city. Some of those are diagnosed with the Syndrome. The typical patient is making their first trip to the Holy Land, is middle-aged, has strong religious beliefs, comes from a small town and is part of a religious tour group, according to a doctor at local health facility. Patients usually don’t remember what happened during their break with reality.