Do all extraordinary experiences look the same? A qualitative approach to the different types of extraordinary experiences

An extraordinary experience (ExE), as the name suggests, is an experience that is out of the ordinary and which does not fit the model of known reality in terms of qualities and processes. The challenge for researchers in this field is to determine whether an ExE is a psychopathological symptom that must be treated or an expansion of consciousness that should be supported and encouraged. Several studies have focused on better defining one or the other of these phenomena or on creating scales of measurement to distinguish them. Objective. - In the present study, the objective is to establish a correlation between all the extraordinary experiences in order to investigate and identify the common aspects that characterize them. This first step will make it possible to improve our knowledge of this subject in order to create, in the medium term, a screening instrument that will help psychiatric practitioners to adapt the follow-up of those individuals who have had particular experiences. Method. - Twenty-seven participants concerned by this theme shared their stories with three researchers who qualitatively analyzed their content in order to identify common characteristics. Results. - Twenty-three similar categories in terms of thematic content emerged. Five important steps were identified that help to understand ExE as a dynamic process with a beginning, a passage, a middle, a return, and an end phase that results in positive psychological and personal consequences. Conclusion. - The qualitative analysis of all combined extraordinary experiences has made it possible to identify 23 common aspects that reveal themselves along a dynamic temporal process. The results tend to show that this type of experience leads to positive changes in those concerned rather than in psychopathological symptoms.& COPY; 2022 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.