Near-Death Experiences in Adult ICU Patients: A Scoping Review.
Kailai Gu, Jingying Huang, Jin Yang, Huiqin Shi, Mengbo Han
Nursing in Critical Care July 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1111/nicc.70532 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Scoping review Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Adult intensive care unit patients |
| Topics | Near-death experience |
| Keywords | Intensive care unit Near‐death experiences Nursing care Scoping review |
| Key findings | Near-death experiences in adult intensive care unit survivors are multidimensional subjective experiences that produce vivid, stable long-term memories and elevate spiritual needs, but their psychosocial impacts are heterogeneous. |
Abstract
Near-death experiences occur in approximately 15% of intensive care unit survivors. Despite their profound impact on post-intensive care syndrome and long-term psychological recovery, near-death experiences remain under-addressed in clinical settings. To systematically map and synthesize evidence regarding the subjective experiences, influencing factors, assessment tools, and prognostic impacts of near-death experiences in adult intensive care unit patients, aiming to provide a comprehensive overview and solid reference for clinical identification and future research. Scoping review. Guided by a scoping review framework, a systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, and VIP Database, from database inception to April 17, 2026. Data from the included literature were subsequently extracted and synthesized. Seven included studies (five prospective cohorts, one qualitative, one mixed-methods) revealed that adult intensive care unit patients experience multidimensional near-death experiences (cognitive, affective, supernatural, and transcendental). The Greyson near-death experience scale is the primary, albeit limited, assessment tool. Prognostically, near-death experiences produce vivid, stable long-term memories and elevate spiritual needs; however, their impacts on psychosocial states and death attitudes remain heterogeneous. The near-death experiences of adult intensive care unit survivors constitute a unique and multidimensional subjective experience, the understanding of which requires both optimized assessment tools and a deeper integration of neurobiological and psychological frameworks. While increased religious interest and memory stability are evident, the persistent contradictions in psychosocial outcomes suggest that specific disease trajectories and cultural factors play a critical moderating role. Within clinical intensive care unit practice, it is paramount to promptly identify near-death experiences by evaluating patients' multifaceted subjective experiences and providing proactive, effective support, as this plays a critical role in facilitating psychological recovery and improving long-term prognosis.
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 |
Citations in the library
Cites 27
- Near-death experience in survivors of cardiac arrest: a prospective study in the Netherlands The Lancet December 1, 2001
- The Near-Death Experience Scale The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease June 1, 1983
- Incidence and correlates of near-death experiences in a cardiac care unit General Hospital Psychiatry July 1, 2003
- Near-Death Experiences and the Temporal Lobe Psychological Science March 24, 2004
- Dissociation in people who have near-death experiences: out of their bodies or out of their minds? The Lancet February 1, 2000
and 22 more in the library