Near-Death Experiences: A Bibliometric and Systematic Review of Published Literature From 1977 to 2025.
Omega July 30, 2025 Sandra Barreto 3 citations
Research on near-death experiences (NDEs) has expanded across medicine, psychology, and literature, but no agreement exists on their origin or nature. A bibliometric and systematic review of 775 articles from 1977 to April 2025, following PRISMA guidelines and using the Tree of Science method, shows that the United States, the United Kingdom, and Belgium lead in NDE research. Methodologies range from medical analyses of brain activity to psychological studies of reduced suicidal ideation and narrative analyses of language patterns. The theoretical landscape remains fragmented, highlighting a need for integrative frameworks. Future work should deepen medical and psychological understanding and examine NDEs' long-term effects on mental health and spiritual development.