A systematic analysis of distressing near-death experience accounts

[en] Near-death experiences (NDEs) are usually associated with positive affect, however, a small proportion are considered distressing. We aimed to look into the proportion of distressing NDEs in a sample of NDE narratives, categorise distressing narratives according to Greyson and Bush’s classification (inverse, void or hellish), and compare distressing and “classical” NDEs. Participants wrote down their experience, completed the Memory Characteristics Questionnaire (assessing the phenomenology of memories) and the Greyson scale (characterising content of NDEs). The proportion of suicidal attempts, content and intensity of distressing and classical NDEs were compared using frequentist and Bayesian statistics. Distressing NDEs represent 14% of our sample (n = 123). We identified 8 inverse, 8 hellish and 1 void accounts. The proportion of suicide survivors is higher in distressing NDEs as compared to classical ones. Finally, memories of distressing NDEs appear as phenomenologically detailed as classical ones. Distressing NDEs deserve careful consideration to ensure their integration into experiencers’ identity.

Research Center/Unit :

GIGA-Consciousness-Coma Science Group; CHU de Liège - Centre du Cerveau²

Disciplines :

Neurology

Author, co-author :

Cassol, Helena ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Consciousness-Coma Science Group

Martial, Charlotte ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Consciousness-Coma Science Group

Annen, Jitka ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Consciousness-Coma Science Group

Martens, Géraldine ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Consciousness-Coma Science Group

Charland-Verville, Vanessa ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Consciousness-Coma Science Group

Majerus, Steve ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Psychologie > Département de Psychologie

Laureys, Steven ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Consciousness-Coma Science Group

Language :

English

Title :

A systematic analysis of distressing near-death experience accounts

Publication date :

2019

Journal title :

Memory

ISSN :

0965-8211

eISSN :

1464-0686

Publisher :

Taylor and Francis, Hove, United Kingdom

Volume :

Pages :

1122-1129

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Available on ORBi :

since 21 July 2019

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