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The fanatic or ignorant patient consistently shows primary process thinking, that is, a prelogical type of thought, and is guided by so-called intuition and magic thinking. The convulsive and ecstatic crisis is compared to what occurs in primitive religions, such as voodoo, or to the blackout of the alcoholic. The crisis is considered a universal phenomenon since its manifestations are the same, whether produced by drugs, alcohol, or autosuggestion. There is a direct relationship between the crisis and a systematized group of ideas highly charged with magic and mystical passion. During the crisis the patient may not have a complete break with reality but there are alterations of sensitivity, and the crisis serves as a secondary gain. Such crises can be produced at will or by provocative stimuli, and the paroxysms can be stopped. They have been studied extensively in Haiti by Dorsainville, Maximilian, and Mora, all of whom have found as predisposing factors hyperemotionality, hyperactivity, and a tendency to be theatrical and exhibitionistic. This reviewer has found the same features in 'The Puerto Rican Syndrome', which shows a temporary overwhelming of the ego, at times with an underlying schizophrenic process.