Incidence of near-death experiences in patients surviving a prolonged critical illness and their long-term impact: a prospective observational study

Abstract

Background So far, the few prospective studies on near-death experience (NDE) were carried out only in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with homogeneous aetiologies, such as cardiac arrest or trauma survivors. The aims of this 1-year prospective and monocentric study were to investigate the incidence of NDE in ICU survivors (all aetiologies) as well as factors that may affect its frequency, and to assess quality of life up to 1 year after enrolment. Methods We enrolled adults with a prolonged ICU stay (> 7 days). During the first 7 days after discharge, all eligible patients were assessed in a face-to-face interview for NDE using the Greyson NDE scale, dissociative experiences using the Dissociative Experience Scale, and spirituality beliefs using the WHOQOL-SRPB. Medical parameters were prospectively collected. At 1-year after inclusion, patients were contacted by phone to measure quality of life using the EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire. Results Out of the 126 included patients, 19 patients (15%) reported having experienced a NDE as identified by the Greyson NDE scale (i.e. cut-off score ≥ 7/32). In univariate analyses, mechanical ventilation, sedation, analgesia, reason for admission, primary organ dysfunction, dissociative and spiritual propensities were associated with the emergence of NDE. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, only the dissociative and spiritual propensity strongly predicted the emergence of NDE. One year later (n = 61), the NDE was not significantly associated with quality of life. Conclusions The recall of NDE is not so rare in the ICU. In our cohort, cognitive and spiritual factors outweighed medical parameters as predictors of the emergence of NDE. Trial registration This trial was registered in Clinicaltrials.gov in February 2020 (NCT04279171).

Chinese translation and validation of the Near-Death Experience Content scale

“…NDEs-like are a more heterogeneous set of states with the possibility of different levels of wakefulness and connectedness in the presence of inner awareness. The most widespread explanations for the occurrence of NDEs tend to integrate psychological and neurobiological mechanisms ( 2 , 12 ). Therefore, NDEs provide researchers with a unique perspective to better understand the neurological mechanisms of (disconnected) consciousness ( 2 ).…”

“…NDEs are increasingly being described as a clear, identifiable physiological and psychological reality with clinical implications (3). NDE, with an incidence of about 20% in cardiac arrest survivors and 15% in patients surviving a protracted severe illness, is not a rare phenomenon (10)(11)(12). Currently, the phenomenon of NDEs can be divided into two categories: classical NDEs and neardeath-like experiences (NDEs-like).…”

“…Currently, the phenomenon of NDEs can be divided into two categories: classical NDEs and neardeath-like experiences (NDEs-like). Classical NDEs occurred in lifethreatening situations, such as cardiac arrest, perioperative complications, electrocution, near-drowning, asphyxia, or attempted suicide (6,(11)(12)(13). On the other hand, it may also occur in non-lifethreatening situations, or what are known as NDEs-like (14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19), including epilepsy (20), syncope (21), meditation (22), intense grief and anxiety (16), or drug use (23,24).…”

Near-death experience and quality of life: additional research

“…I read with great interest the recent article by Rousseau et al [ 1 ] documenting the incidence of near-death experiences (NDEs) in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, and noting that NDEs, contrary to expectation, were not significantly associated with quality of life one year later, as measured by the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Spirituality, Religiousness and Personal Beliefs (WHOQOL-SRPB). As the authors noted, NDEs are typically reported as life-transforming, but may be associated with distressing emotions [ 2 ].…”

Near-Death Experiences and Sleep Disturbance

“…Near-death experiences (NDEs) are profound, nonordinary states of consciousness frequently elicited by life-threatening events. Reported by 10%–18% of people who come close to death (Greyson, 2003; Parnia et al, 2001; Rousseau et al, 2023; van Lommel et al, 2001), NDEs are characterized by distinctive phenomenological features. Among the more widely reported are feelings of peace and joy, an impression of being out of the physical body, the perception of bright or unusual light, encountering nonmaterial beings, and altered perceptions of time and space (Zingrone and Alvarado, 2009).…”