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Near‐Death Experience During Emergency Ketamine Use: A Case Report

Pauline Fritz, Anaïs Pichelin, Aurore Ancion, Naji Alnagger, Nicolas Lejeune, Alexandre Ghuysen, Olivia Gosseries, Charlotte Martial

Brain and Behavior October 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.70939 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Case study Case report Peer reviewed
Sample size 1
Population A patient who had a near-death experience
Topics Esketamine Ketamine Near-death experience
Citations 2
Key findings Near-death experiences can produce lasting transformations in patients, making their recognition important for medical practice.

Abstract

This case, set within its medical and pharmacological context, provides a unique opportunity to study NDEs and their precipitating context. The reported transformations underscore the importance of recognizing NDEs for their possible long-term effects on patients and relevance to medical practice.

Comparable studies

Other case reports and case series on ketamine, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
The destruction of the lower urinary tract by ketamine abuse: a new syndrome? Young recreational abusers of street-ketamine in Hong Kong referred to urology units 2008 Retrospective case series n = 59
Electroconvulsive Therapy, Ketamine, and Esketamine in a Patient with Major Depressive Disorder and Multiple Comorbidities: A Case Report over 10-year Treatment from Adolescence to Adulthood. A patient with treatment-resistant depression and comorbid generalized anxiety... 2025 Case report n = 1
Treatment of compulsive behaviour in eating disorders with intermittent ketamine infusions Chronic and treatment-resistant eating disorder patients 1998 Case series n = 15
A longitudinal case series of IM ketamine for patients with severe and enduring eating disorders and comorbid treatment‐resistant depression Patients with enduring eating disorders and treatment-resistant depression 2021 Case series n = 4
Ketamine-Enhanced Psychotherapy: Preliminary Clinical Observations on its Effects in Treating Death Anxiety Terminally-ill people suffering death anxiety 2007 Review and case study n = 2

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Esketamine Ketamine Near-death experience