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The Psychodynamics of Near-Death Experiences

Bruce Greyson

The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease June 1, 1983 DOI: 10.1097/00005053-198306000-00008 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Review Peer reviewed
Topics Near-death experience
Keywords Psychodynamics Psychoanalysis
Citations 58
Key findings Psychological analysis of near-death experiences reveals meaningful psychodynamic precipitants and sequelae that may inform clinical techniques in suicide prevention and treatment of terminal and bereaved patients.

Abstract

Near-death experiences (NDEs), profound transcendental events experienced on the threshold of death, may be interpreted on several levels from the neurophysiological to the eschatological. Independent of other levels of interpretation, a psychological analysis of NDEs produces meaningful and researchable psychodynamic precipitants and sequelae. A number of psychological mechanisms are discussed, which overdetermine the prototypical NDE, and objections to psychological interpretations of the phenomenon are considered. Further exploration of the psychological aspects of NDEs may yield clinically useful techniques in suicide prevention and in the treatment of terminal and bereaved patients.

Comparable studies

Other narrative reviews on near-death experience, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Distressing Near-Death Experiences 1992 Review
Attitude Change Following Near-Death Experiences Individuals who have had near-death experiences 1980 Review n = 21
Near-death experiences. 2004 Review
The Handbook of Near-Death Experiences 2009 Review
Near-death experiences in cardiac arrest survivors 2005 Review

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