Impact of a near-death experience and religious conversion on the mental health of a criminal: case report and literature review.
Camilla C Braghetta, Glícia P Santana, Quirino Cordeiro, Sergio P Rigonatti, Giancarlo Lucchetti
Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy January 1, 2013 DOI: 10.1590/s2237-60892013000100010 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA near-death experience followed by religious conversion positively affected the mental health of a former prisoner. The individual's experience scored above 7 on the Greyson scale, a measure of near-death experience depth. Such profound psychological events can occur in situations of extreme physical or emotional distress, regardless of cultural or religious background. The case suggests that studying near-death experiences may help understand coping mechanisms and moral or ethical transformations in affected individuals.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A former prisoner |
| Key finding | A near-death experience followed by religious conversion had a positive impact on the mental health of a former prisoner. |
Abstract
Near-death experiences have been defined as profound psychological events that may occur to a person while close to death or in a situation of extreme physical or emotional distress. These experiences seem to have an important effect on the patients' mental health and may occur in several situations despite their cultural and religious beliefs. The present case report describes the positive impact of a near-death experience (Greyson scale > 7) followed by religious conversion on the mental health of a former prisoner. Investigation of the role of near-death experiences by the scientific community could shed light on the coping mechanisms and moral/ethical transformations that take place in these individuals.