Consistency of near-death experience accounts over two decades: Are reports embellished over time?
Resuscitation February 8, 2007 DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2006.10.013 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractAccounts of near-death experiences remain consistent over nearly two decades. In a study of 72 patients who had reported a near-death experience in the 1980s, their scores on the NDE scale did not change significantly when retested years later, and the time elapsed between the two tests did not correlate with any score changes. This indicates that such accounts, especially their positive emotional content, are not embellished over time and supports their reliability.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 72 |
| Population | Patients who reported a near-death experience in the 1980s |
| Duration | Almost two decades |
| Citations | 111 |
| Key finding | Accounts of near-death experiences, particularly their positive affect, were not embellished over a period of almost two decades. |
Abstract
Aim"Near-death experiences," commonly reported after clinical death and resuscitation, may require intervention and, if reliable, may elucidate altered brain functioning under extreme stress. It has been speculated that accounts of near-death experiences are exaggerated over the years. The objective of this study was to test the reliability over two decades of accounts of near-death experiences.MethodsSeventy-two patients with near-death experience who had completed the NDE scale in the 1980s (63% of the original cohort still alive) completed the scale a second time, without reference to the original scale administration. The primary outcome was differences in NDE scale scores on the two administrations. The secondary outcome was the statistical association between differences in scores and years elapsed between the two administrations.ResultsMean scores did not change significantly on the total NDE scale, its 4 factors, or its 16 items. Correlation coefficients between scores on the two administrations were significant at P<0.001 for the total NDE scale, for its 4 factors, and for its 16 items. Correlation coefficients between score changes and time elapsed between the two administrations were not significant for the total NDE scale, for its 4 factors, or for its 16 items.ConclusionContrary to expectation, accounts of near-death experiences, and particularly reports of their positive affect, were not embellished over a period of almost two decades. These data support the reliability of near-death experience accounts.