A virtual reality intervention to reduce death anxiety and stress in adults: examining the effect of a near-death experience simulation
Parya Khandan, Benjamin Ennemoser, Ryan D. Foster, Logan Dubose, Zhipeng Lu
Frontiers in Virtual Reality September 29, 2025 DOI: 10.3389/frvir.2025.1644131 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 61 |
| Population | Adults |
| Topics | Anxiety Near-death experience |
| Keywords | Virtual reality Death anxiety Stress Near-death experience nde Psychological interventions Human behavior |
| Key findings | An immersive VR near-death experience simulation significantly reduced death anxiety and stress, with no significant differences between narrated and non-narrated versions. |
Abstract
Death anxiety (DA) and stress pose significant psychological challenges that negatively impact health and wellbeing. Exposure therapy—a behavioral approach that reduces fear by repeatedly and safely exposing individuals to feared stimuli—has demonstrated effectiveness in treating anxiety. However, traditional exposure methods are limited in addressing DA, as individuals cannot authentically experience death. This study examined the efficacy of an immersive virtual reality (VR) near-death experience (NDE) simulation as an alternative to an actual NDE for reducing DA and stress. Sixty-one adults engaged in a first-person VR NDE experience, randomized to either a narrated or non-narrated version. Pre- and post-intervention questionnaire comparisons revealed significant reductions in both DA and stress, with no significant differences between the two versions. These findings contribute to the growing evidence on how immersive VR can modulate emotional and cognitive responses related to mortality, supporting its potential as a scalable tool for psychological interventions and fostering behavioral changes such as reduced avoidance of death-related thoughts, greater resilience, and shifts toward more positive, value-driven living.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on near-death experience, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMT Models the Near-Death Experience Healthy participants | 2018 | Within-subjects placebo-controlled study | n = 13 |
| Virtual mortality and near-death experience after a prolonged exposure in a shared virtual reality may lead to positive life-attitude changes Female participants | 2018 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 31 |
| Effects of a Near-Death Experience Learning Module on Grief Bereaved adults (22 females, 2 males; aged 20-71 years, mean age 35.3 years) | 2010 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 24 |
| Does Learning About Near-Death Experiences Promote Psycho-Spiritual Benefits in Those Who Have Not Had a Near-Death Experience? Adults (unspecified) randomly assigned to intervention or non-intervention group | 2017 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 143 |
Citations in the library
Cites 9
- A Virtual Out-of-Body Experience Reduces Fear of Death PLoS One January 9, 2017
- Virtual mortality and near-death experience after a prolonged exposure in a shared virtual reality may lead to positive life-attitude changes PLoS One November 5, 2018
- Which near-death experience features are associated with reduced fear of death? Mortality January 27, 2022
- Neuro-functional modeling of near-death experiences in contexts of altered states of consciousness. Frontiers in Psychology 2022
- The Near-Death Experience and Suicidal Ideation. OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying March 10, 2023
and 4 more in the library