Lucid dream techniques can be trained, but many other phase states, such as sleep paralysis, false awakenings, or near-death experiences (NDEs), occur spontaneously. These are more difficult to track and study. A group of researchers from Belgium, led by Anne-Françoise Rousseau, conducted a survey of survivors of intensive care units. Scientists were interested in the question: how often do NDEs occur and what are their possible causes/contributing factors?
Of the 126 patients included in the sample, 19 people (15%) reported that they have had a NDE. This, as the authors note, means that it is not such a rare phenomenon. At such moments, the perception of the outside world is either absent or very limited, unexpected intense images appear in the mind, and the patient may have an out-of-body experience.
Do personal attributes affect the probability of a NDE? Researchers suggest that they do. If the patient is prone to dissociative states and spiritual beliefs, then their chances of having a NDE increase. There is also a hypothesis that near-death experiences offer biological benefits in a critical situation. The NDE offers a less disturbing “reality” to people who are faced with potential danger, and psychological wellbeing is an important resource for survival.
Thus, the scientists’ observations show that mental and spiritual factors are more significant than medical ones in terms of the probability of a NDE. However, the study’s sample is too small to draw unambiguous conclusions. Further research is needed with larger groups of survivors.
Based on this information, in your estimate, how likely are you to have a near-death experience?
The article was published in February 2023 in the journal Critical Care.
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