Induced After-Death Communication (IADC) Experience and Near-Death Experience (NDE): Two Variations of a Single Phenomenon

Most people who undergo induced after-death communication (IADC) therapy report experiences that closely resemble near-death experiences (NDEs). In a study of 59 participants who had completed IADC therapy, 86% scored at or above the established threshold for an NDE on the NDE Scale, with an average total score of 14.69. The strongest features were transcendental and affective elements, such as perceiving otherworldly environments, encountering deceased loved ones, and profound peace, while paranormal aspects were less prominent. These findings provide the first empirical evidence that IADC experiences share a core phenomenology with NDEs, helping to explain how the therapy may work.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Background: Induced after-death communication (IADC) experiences have been reported to share many phenomenological features with Near-Death Experiences (NDEs). This study aimed to empirically test the hypothesis that the majority of IADC experiences manifest a phenomenology that largely overlaps with that of NDEs. Methods: A cross-sectional observational design with retrospective data collection was employed. Fifty-nine participants (M = 56.25 years, SD = 10.18) who had previously undergone IADC therapy completed the Italian version of the Near-Death Experience (NDE) Scale. Descriptive analyses and repeated measures ANOVA were conducted to examine total scores and differences across subscales. Results: A total of 51 participants (86%) exceeded the established NDE threshold (≥7), with a mean total score of 14.69. The highest scores were observed on the Transcendental and Affective subscales, whereas the Paranormal subscale showed the lowest average scores. The Cognitive subscale exhibited intermediate values. Item-level analyses confirmed the high intensity of core NDE features, such as perceiving otherworldly environments, encountering deceased loved ones, and experiencing profound peace. Conclusions: This study provides the first empirical evidence of phenomenological overlap between IADC experiences and NDEs. These results shed light on the processes underlying the effectiveness of IADC therapy.