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The Influence of Demographic/Psychological Factors and Preexisting Conditions on the Near-Death Experience

Stuart W. Twemlow, Glen O. Gabbard

November 1, 1985 DOI: 10.2190/8vhv-yyep-de5m-hl8n (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Questionnaire survey
Sample size 34
Population People reporting near-death experiences
Topics Near-death experience
Key findings No psychopathology was evident, but those prone to near-death experiences showed a different perceptual-cognitive style. Preexisting physical states clustered and appeared to influence the experience's nature, with tentative psychoanalytic explanations proposed.

Abstract

Thirty-four participants responding to a questionnaire survey and reporting near-death experiences are examined for preexisting psychological, perceptual-cognitive, demographic, and physical differences when compared both with each other and with a larger pool of 386 respondents who were not near death. There was no evidence of psychopathology in the population, but definite evidence of different perceptual-cognitive style in those prone to near-death experiences. Different preexisting physical states did show clusters of features, thus apparently influencing the nature of the experience. Tentative psychoanalytic explanatory formulations are noted.

Comparable studies

Other cross-sectional and survey studies on near-death experience, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Fantasy Proneness Correlates With the Intensity of Near-Death Experience Individuals who have experienced a near-death experience (classical or NDE-like) and... 2018 Cross-sectional survey n = 228
A systematic analysis of distressing near-death experience accounts Individuals who had a near-death experience and wrote down their account 2019 Cross-sectional study n = 123
Reduced death threat in near-death experiencers Adults who had near-death experiences, came close to death without NDE, or never came... 1992 Cross-sectional study n = 290
Near-Death Experiences in a Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic Population Psychiatric outpatients 2003 Cross-sectional survey n = 832
Near-Death States Reported in a Sample of 50 Misusers Previous ketamine misusers who reported a ketamine-related near-death experience 2010 Cross-sectional survey n = 50

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