Journal of Psychology & Psychotherapy
Open Access

Abstract

Profile Study of Low-Income Population Seeking the Services of the Clinic of the Latin American Center of Parapsychology

Maria Helena Brandalise and Gilberto Safra

Study background: This study describes the socio-demographic profile of 63 patients who, after having been subjected to previous treatments, attended the Clinic of São Paulo (Brazil) for psychological assessment and assistance with their psychological and emotional disorders.

Methods: We assessed the profiles of patients who consulted the Clinic of the Latin American Center of Parapsychology (CLAP). Data on diagnosis and treatment were assessed in a standard and systematic way for 63 patients in 880 sessions in total. Information regarding age, gender, level of education, profession, religion, salary, and region of residence were collected.

Results: Women were the most prevalent, representing 68% of the patients. They had higher levels of education, (73%), however with unstable sources of income (54%), and specified religious beliefs (90%). In general, they belonged to a low/middle income social class and presented psychological problems that were mostly psychiatric and psycho-religious. The main reasons that led them to seek psychological help were depression and anxiety (46%). Regarding patients, 98% were referred specifically for parapsychological reasons. It is worth notice that 5% of the men abandoned the treatment, a circumstance that was not encountered with women.

Conclusions: In this study, three characteristics were considered: the inability of the healthcare context to reveal the actual origin and nature of the problems experienced by the patients, their socioeconomic situation, and level of education. These patients were easily open to suggestions, which often favored the occurrence of psychic perturbations and the manifestation of several mental health disorders. In general, patients incurred significant financial expenses when subjected to previous diagnoses and treatments without achieving desired outcomes. These people came to the clinic in search of the “last hope.”