Renaud started following the work of David Vaidis, Université d'Orléans (Loire Valley University), Institut Universitaire de Technologie.
Renaud added 3 papers
Renaud started following the work of Harvey Irwin, University of New England - Australia, Psychology.
Renaud Nice to see the improving number of Grenz-researchers here
Graduate Student, Psychology
Thesis Title: Differential clinical approach to exceptional experiences: from traumatic to growth processes in teenagers and adults
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Le Maléfan
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About
Introduction : The purpose of this research is to develop and test a tool for semi-structured diagnostic interviews for people living exceptional experiences. The main issue addressed here is to assess the link between exceptional experiences and schizotypy (Baer, 1993; Hergovich et al., 2008) - a link which seems to be influenced by the epistemological background of traditional and modern psychiatry (Le Maléfan, 1999 ; Spriet, 2006). With a description of hallucinations and delusions that are not exclusively associated to psychosis (Bentall, 2000a), it seems that the assumed relationship between exceptional experiences and psychosis is significantly weakened (Mischo, 1996). This could then make room for a rehabilitation of the early studies of psychical researchers on the general population and on hysterical personalities (Gurney, Myers and Podmore, 1886 ; Le Maléfan, 2008). The work on differential diagnosis can serve to develop a differential clinical approach for people suffering from their exceptional experiences.
Methods : The expected sample for this study is a total of 20 interviews (10 teenagers, 10 adults), sent to at least 4 independent analysts. The semi-structured diagnostic interviews with people living exceptional experiences will be subjected to a content analysis using twelve criteria differentiating between neurotic delirium and psychotic delusion. The twelve criteria come from the nosography of Maleval (1981, 1996, 2000), which has already been applied to abduction experiences (Maleval, 1997) and mediumistic experiences (Spriet, 2006). Content analysis will be confirmed by the independent analysts, on the basis of the interview transcripts. Results will be compared with a psychiatric test, the Peters Delusion Inventory (or PDI, see Peters et al., 1999ab), which includes items on paranormal beliefs as signs of psychotic disorders.
Results : In a previously unpublished work addressed teenagers’ relationship with the occult with a small sample, we do not obtain results supporting the hypothesis of a psychotic disorder, contrary to the scores of these teenagers in the PDI.
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