title: [Help and advice for people with exceptional experiences].
abstract: The results of numerous surveys show that Exceptional Experiences (EE) belong to a human body of knowledge which is historically as well as trans-culturally common. They are frequent within the normal population . Although people with these experiences may develop irritations and alienations requiring treatment in consequence, the medical and psychosocial health care system hardly offers any competent help. In our study data were collected to better understand the clientele, their needs and the reported phenomena. In addition, data show the specific need for care in that area. Starting from N = 858 cases which were taken care of within the years of 1996 and 2000, sociodemographic data and mental health problems of this specific clientele are described. Moreover typical patterns of EE which were found by factor analysis are presented. Based on these patterns different EE-specific types of clients can be distinguished.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Psychologie der Universität Freiburg, Abteilung für Klinische Psychologie und Entwicklungspsychologie, Freiburg. belz@psychologie.uni-freiburg.de
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Belz-Merk
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fach
mesh_terms: D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D004282:Documentation; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008273:Magic; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D010268:Parapsychology