Table 3 The Jerusalem Syndrome classification by type and subtype [107] (used with permission), applied to dark tourism

Type I

Psychiatric ideation, need to accomplish mission

Usually alone

Documented psychiatric history: schizophrenia or bipolar illness

I(i) identification with character (murderer, torturer, victim)

I (ii) identification with idea (satanic rituals, righting wrongs of killings)

I (iii) magical ideals concerning health/sickness/healing possibilities (relics, holy water)

I (iv) problems with family (unresolved grieving, family disapproval of interest in horror)

Type II

Curiosity plus strange (non-psychotic) thoughts or mission

Usually in groups, sometimes alone

Non-psychotic mental disorders: personality disorders; fixed ideas

II(i) appears in groups (aims at changing society; Gothic appearance and unusual behaviour)

II (ii) individual (aims at correcting displays, sites, type of veneration, behaviour)

Type III

(Jerusalem syndrome discrete type)

Regular tourists

With friends or family; often as part of organised tour

No previous psychiatric history or psychopathology

no subtypes: all cases characterised by highly predictable well described clinical stages

(e.g. anxiety, obsessive behaviour, need to display particular behaviour at site, vocalised display of views on horror or death, no visual or auditory hallucinations)