Sensory and Quasi-Sensory Experiences of the Deceased in Bereavement: An Interdisciplinary and Integrative Review

Abstract

Bereaved people often report having sensory and quasi-sensory experiences of the deceased (SED), and there is an ongoing debate over whether SED are associated with pathology, such as grief complications. Research into these experiences has been conducted in various disciplines, including psychiatry, psychology, and anthropology, without much crossover. This review brings these areas of research together, drawing on the expertise of an interdisciplinary working group formed as part of the International Consortium for Hallucination Research (ICHR). It examines existing evidence on the phenomenology, associated factors, and impact of SED, including the role of culture, and discusses the main theories on SED and how these phenomena compare with unusual experiences in other contexts. The review concludes that the vast majority of these experiences are benign and that they should be considered in light of their biographical, relational, and sociocultural contexts.

Sensory experiences of one’s deceased spouse in older adults: An analysis of predisposing factors

“…Several terms have been used to denote these phenomena (Kamp et al, 2020), including hallucinations (e.g. Kamp et al, 2019;Rees, 1971) and variations of 'sense of presence' experiences (e.g.…”

“…Keen, Murray, & Payne, 2013b;& Coyle, 2011), reflecting various ontological and theoretical perspectives. However, at present no theoretical framework has succeeded in fully and coherently accounting for the etiology of the experiences, as well as for variations in phenomenology and consequences as reported by experiencers (Kamp et al, 2020). The term 'sensory or quasi-sensory experiences of the deceased' (SED), originating from an interdisciplinary working group on SED is preferred here (Kamp et al, 2020), as it is a relatively neutral term, not closely associated with a particular theoretical or ontological stance.…”

“…Many perspectives or conceptualizations of SED consider them as common and broadly normal bereavement experiences. Indeed, most people who experience SED find them to be benign, and at times helpful or comforting (Castelnovo, Cavallotti, Gambini, & D'Agostino, 2015;Kamp et al, 2020). A central conceptualization of SED is as a relationally meaningful phenomenon (e.g.…”

“…However, little is known about why some bereaved persons experience SED and others do not. Research on sociodemographic characteristics is limited and has generally yielded inconclusive results (Castelnovo et al, 2015;Kamp et al, 2020;Keen, Murray, & Payne, 2013a), although there is some indication that SED may be more prevalent among women (Asai et al, 2012;Grimby, 1993;Klugman, 2006), and associated with higher age (Olson et al, 1985;Rees, 1971). Another factor, which has been associated with SED after late-life spousal bereavement, is SED in response to earlier bereavements (Olson et al, 1985).…”

“…Exploring potential connections to mental and physical health is important, particularly because SED are associated with stigma in many cultures (Grimby, 1998;Rees, 1971;Sabucedo, Evans, Gaitanidis, & Hayes, 2020). As a consequence, these experiences may often be perceived as positive in themselves, but worry about others people's reactions may cause distress and be detrimental to the individual (Kamp et al, 2020).…”