Incidence of Near‐Death Experiences Following Attempted Suicide
Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior March 1, 1986 DOI: 10.1111/j.1943-278x.1986.tb00719.x (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 61 |
| Population | Consecutive hospital admissions for attempted suicide |
| Topics | Near-death experience |
| Keywords | Suicidal ideation Incidence geometry Suicide prevention Injury prevention Poison control Suicide attempt Suicide ideation Medical emergency Clinical psychology |
| Citations | 27 |
| Key findings | 16 out of 61 patients (26.2%) who attempted suicide reported having a near-death experience precipitated by the attempt. |
Abstract
Near-death experiences (NDEs), profound subjective experiences occurring during a close brush with death and containing transcendental or mystical elements, have been reported to reduce suicidal ideation, despite their "romanticization" of death. Among 61 consecutive hospital admissions for attempted suicide, 16 patients (26.2%) reported NDEs precipitated by the attempt. NDEs were not significantly associated with any demographic factors. In light of the frequency of NDEs following attempted suicide, further studies are indicated in regard to the effect of those experiences on subsequent suicidal behavior.
Citations in the library
Cited by 8
- Western Scientific Approaches to Near-Death Experiences Humanities November 9, 2015
- What happens in the brain when we die? Deciphering the neurophysiology of the final moments in life Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience May 9, 2023
- Clinical Utility of Mystical Experiences: An Overview and Conceptual Framework. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis July 21, 2025
- The infinity object: neurophenomenology and psychoanalytic corollaries of near-death experiences Frontiers in Psychiatry November 6, 2026
- Science and spirituality: A challenge for the 21st century [The Bruce Greyson lecture from the International Association for Near-Death Studies 2004 annual conference]. Journal of Near-Death Studies 2005
and 3 more in the library
Cites 7
- The Near-Death Experience Scale The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease June 1, 1983
- Attitude Change Following Near-Death Experiences Psychiatry August 1, 1980
- Near-death experiences and personal values American Journal of Psychiatry May 1, 1983
- The Subjective Response to Life-Threatening Danger OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying December 1, 1979
- The Psychodynamics of Near-Death Experiences The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease June 1, 1983
and 2 more in the library