Near-Death Experiences in a Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic Population
Psychiatric Services November 26, 2003 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.54.12.1649 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 832 |
| Population | Psychiatric outpatients |
| Topics | Near-death experience |
| Keywords | Psychological distress Cause of death Population Outpatient clinic Pathological Clinical psychology Mental health Disease Jungian analytical psychology |
| Citations | 44 |
| Key findings | Psychiatric outpatients who reported near-death experiences after encounters with death had less psychological distress than those who had been close to death without such experiences. |
Abstract
Near-death experiences, or mystical experiences during encounters with death, are reported to have beneficial effects despite their phenomenologic similarity to pathological states. This study explored the prevalence of near-death experiences and associated psychological distress by using a cross-sectional survey of 832 psychiatric outpatients. Standardized measures of near-death experiences and psychological distress were administered via questionnaire at clinic intake. A total of 272 patients (33 percent) reported encounters with death, and these patients were found to have greater psychological distress than other patients. Sixty-one of the patients who had been close to death (22 percent) reported having near-death experiences, and these patients were found to have less psychological distress than patients who did not have near-death experiences after brushes with death.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on near-death experience, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fantasy Proneness Correlates With the Intensity of Near-Death Experience Individuals who have experienced a near-death experience (classical or NDE-like) and... | 2018 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 228 |
| A systematic analysis of distressing near-death experience accounts Individuals who had a near-death experience and wrote down their account | 2019 | Cross-sectional study | n = 123 |
| Reduced death threat in near-death experiencers Adults who had near-death experiences, came close to death without NDE, or never came... | 1992 | Cross-sectional study | n = 290 |
| Near-Death States Reported in a Sample of 50 Misusers Previous ketamine misusers who reported a ketamine-related near-death experience | 2010 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 50 |
| Prevalence of near-death experiences in Australia. General population of Australia | 2005 | Cross-sectional survey |
Citations in the library
Cited by 21
- Near-death experiences in non-life-threatening events and coma of different etiologies Frontiers in Human Neuroscience May 27, 2014
- “Reality†of near-death-experience memories: evidence from a psychodynamic and electrophysiological integrated study Frontiers in Human Neuroscience June 19, 2014
- What happens in the brain when we die? Deciphering the neurophysiology of the final moments in life Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience May 9, 2023
- Equivalência semântica da versão em português da Escala de Experiência de Quase-Morte Psico-USF April 1, 2010
- Acute Psychedelic Reactions, Post-Acute Changes in Dysfunctional Attitudes, and Psychedelic-Associated Changes in Wellbeing. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs October 30, 2024
and 16 more in the library
Cites 4
- The Near-Death Experience Scale The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease June 1, 1983
- Near-death experiences. American Psychological Association eBooks October 27, 2004
- Posttraumatic stress symptoms following near-death experiences. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry 2001
- Near-Death Experiences and Antisuicidal Attitudes OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying March 1, 1993