Near-Death Experiences in Adult ICU Patients: A Scoping Review.
Nursing in Critical Care July 1, 2026 Kailai Gu, Jingying Huang, Jin Yang et al.
About 15% of intensive care unit survivors report near-death experiences, which involve cognitive, affective, supernatural, and transcendental dimensions. These experiences produce vivid, stable long-term memories and increase spiritual needs, but their effects on psychosocial states and death attitudes vary. The Greyson near-death experience scale is the main assessment tool but has limitations. Understanding near-death experiences requires better assessment tools and integration of neurobiological and psychological frameworks. Identifying and supporting patients with these experiences is important for psychological recovery and long-term prognosis.