Get the full 30 minute interview with Mother Melania who is the superior of Holy Assumption Monastery in northern California. They belong to the Orthodox Church in America which has its roots in the Russian Tradition. Her research says that mental illness was understood 300 years before Christ and would not have been confused for demon possession.
"In our day and age we are doing pretty much what the demons want us to do, so they would be really stupid to come out in obvious force. So if there’s anything that I would like to get across in this is that where our spiritual warfare is, is in our day to day life of am I loving the Lord my God with all my heart and soul and mind and strength and my neighbour as myself, or am I just going around my life thinking I’m not really hurting anybody but just doing what I want to do in a way that is taking me away from God and away from love."