The Psychodynamics of Near-Death Experiences

Near-death experiences (NDEs) are profound transcendental events that occur near death and can be understood on multiple levels, including neurophysiological and eschatological. A psychological analysis reveals meaningful psychodynamic causes and consequences. The article discusses several psychological mechanisms that overdetermine the prototypical NDE and addresses objections to psychological interpretations. Further research into the psychological aspects of NDEs may lead to clinically useful techniques for suicide prevention and for treating terminally ill and bereaved patients.

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Abstract

Near-death experiences (NDEs), profound transcendental events experienced on the threshold of death, may be interpreted on several levels from the neurophysiological to the eschatological. Independent of other levels of interpretation, a psychological analysis of NDEs produces meaningful and researchable psychodynamic precipitants and sequelae. A number of psychological mechanisms are discussed, which overdetermine the prototypical NDE, and objections to psychological interpretations of the phenomenon are considered. Further exploration of the psychological aspects of NDEs may yield clinically useful techniques in suicide prevention and in the treatment of terminal and bereaved patients.