Volume 11, Issue 1 (3-2026)
cjhaa 2026, 11(1): 12-5 |
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Darvishpour A, Shouri Bidgoli A. A review of near-death experiences: with an emphasis on characteristics and outcomes. cjhaa 2026; 11 (1) : 2
URL: http://cjhaa.mubabol.ac.ir/article-1-243-en.html
URL: http://cjhaa.mubabol.ac.ir/article-1-243-en.html
Guilan University of Medical Sciences
Abstract: (106 Views)
Background and Objective: Near-death experiences (NDEs) are profound, multidimensional, and often transformative phenomena that are reported in critical situations such as cardiac arrest, anesthesia, or severe accidents. These experiences may include out-of-body experiences, exposure to light, life review, and even disturbing experiences. The aim of this study was to review the characteristics and outcomes of NDEs.
Methods: In this systematic review, articles were searched in the international databases PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and the Google Scholar search engine between 2011 and 2024. Keywords related to the characteristics and outcomes of NDEs were used in the search process. Inclusion criteria were full-text studies published in English on NDEs. Exclusion criteria included letters to the editor, abstracts of articles, and presentations at conferences and seminars. Out of 470 retrieved articles, after final screening, 29 articles were included in the analysis. The data were analyzed using a qualitative content analysis method with a conventional approach.
Findings: The analysis identified four main categories: 1- Common Phenomenal Features (with six subcategories: exiting the body, passing through a tunnel, seeing a bright and comforting light, meeting spiritual beings or deceased individuals, reviewing life and perceiving a different or heavenly reality); 2- Disturbing Experiences (with four subcategories: disturbing emotions, darkness and hell, doubting one's existential worth, and feeling rejected); 3- Psychological and Spiritual Consequences (with two subcategories: positive and negative consequences); and 4- Factors Influencing the Interpretation of the Experience (with four subcategories: cultural and religious background, value system and level of psychological resilience, social support or neglect, and language and narrativization of the experience).
Conclusion: NDEs are universal but highly context- and region-specific phenomena whose meaning depends not only on the content, but also on their psychological, cultural, and social contexts of the experiencer. These findings highlight the need for interdisciplinary and context-based attention to NDEs at therapeutic, psychological, spiritual, and research levels.
Methods: In this systematic review, articles were searched in the international databases PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and the Google Scholar search engine between 2011 and 2024. Keywords related to the characteristics and outcomes of NDEs were used in the search process. Inclusion criteria were full-text studies published in English on NDEs. Exclusion criteria included letters to the editor, abstracts of articles, and presentations at conferences and seminars. Out of 470 retrieved articles, after final screening, 29 articles were included in the analysis. The data were analyzed using a qualitative content analysis method with a conventional approach.
Findings: The analysis identified four main categories: 1- Common Phenomenal Features (with six subcategories: exiting the body, passing through a tunnel, seeing a bright and comforting light, meeting spiritual beings or deceased individuals, reviewing life and perceiving a different or heavenly reality); 2- Disturbing Experiences (with four subcategories: disturbing emotions, darkness and hell, doubting one's existential worth, and feeling rejected); 3- Psychological and Spiritual Consequences (with two subcategories: positive and negative consequences); and 4- Factors Influencing the Interpretation of the Experience (with four subcategories: cultural and religious background, value system and level of psychological resilience, social support or neglect, and language and narrativization of the experience).
Conclusion: NDEs are universal but highly context- and region-specific phenomena whose meaning depends not only on the content, but also on their psychological, cultural, and social contexts of the experiencer. These findings highlight the need for interdisciplinary and context-based attention to NDEs at therapeutic, psychological, spiritual, and research levels.
Article number: 2
Type of Study: Applicable |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2026/03/16 | Accepted: 2026/04/9 | Published: 2026/05/20
Received: 2026/03/16 | Accepted: 2026/04/9 | Published: 2026/05/20
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