Explanation of near-death experiences: a systematic analysis of case reports and qualitative research.
Frontiers in psychology January 1, 2023 Amirhossein Hashemi, Ali Akbar Oroojan, Maryam Rassouli et al. 22 citations
A systematic review of near-death experiences (NDEs) across religious and cultural backgrounds analyzed 54 studies from 1980 to 2022, covering 465 individuals. The experiences fell into four main categories: emotional, cognitive, spiritual/religious, and supernatural, with 19 subcategories. The most common were supernatural experiences, particularly out-of-body experiences. The core patterns reported—such as leaving the body, passing through a tunnel, and heightened senses—were similar across individuals, though explanations and interpretations varied by culture and religion. The review suggests that understanding these common elements can help clinicians provide meaningful responses to patients who report NDEs.