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Key Facts about Near-Death Experiences - References

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Definition of an NDE

A near-death experience (NDE) is a profound psychological event  that may occur to a person close to death or, if not near death, in a situation of physical or emotional crisis. Because it includes transcendental and mystical elements, an NDE is a powerful event of consciousness; it is not mental illness. 1 

Whether happening “truly near death” or under benign circumstances, the near-death experience contains powerful images and emotions, usually of peace and love though sometimes terror, despair, guilt. An NDE may include an out-of-body experience and vivid perceptions of movement, light, darkness; encounters with deceased loved ones, unfamiliar entities and/or spiritual presences; sometimes a life review, a landscape, a sense of overpowering knowledge and purpose. The aftereffects of an NDE or related experience are enduring, often powerful, and may be life-altering.

The NDE belongs to a larger family of experiences that go beyond the usual limits of space and time and can transform a person's life and beliefs. They may be called spiritually transformative, conversion, mystical, religious, or transpersonal experiences.

One-fourth of the 800 people who have submitted an account of their experience to the IANDS online NDE archives reported they were not close to death or clinically dead at the time.  Instead, they were in emotionally intense situations, praying or meditating, sleeping, or in ordinary states of consciousness when this phenomenon occurred. IANDS refers to these as “near-death-like experiences” or NDLEs.  Seventy-five percent of those who sent their accounts had a sense of being close to death, were in a life-threatening situation, or believed they were clinically dead.2 

Article Index

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References 

  1. Greyson, B. (2000). Near-Death Experiences. In E. Cardeña, S. J. Lynn, & S. Krippner (Eds.), Varieties of anomalous experiences (pp. 315-352). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
  2. Migliore,V. (2007). Statistical Summary of Near-Death Experience Reports. IANDS report.
  3. Moody, R. (1975). Life After Life. Mockingbird Books.
  4. Ring, K. (1980). Life At Death. Coward, McCann & Geoghegan.
  5. Moody, R. (1975).
  6. Rommer, B. (2000). Blessing in disguise: Another side of the near-death experience. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications.
  7. Bush, N.E. (2006)."Distressing Near-Death Experiences,"  presentation at International Association for Near-Death Studies 2006 Annual Conference, University of Texas M.D.Anderson Cancer Center. 
  8. Lindley, J.H., Bryan, S., and Conley, B. (1981). Near-death experiences in a Pacific Northwest American Population: The Evergreen study. Anabiosis 1, 104-125.
  9. Migliore, V. (2007).
  10. http://www.nderf.org/meg_a's_nde.htm.
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  12. Moody, R. (1975).
  13. Gallup, G., and Proctor,W. (1982). Adventures in Immortality: A Look Beyond the Threshold of Death. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
  14. Perera, M. et.al. (2005). Prevalence of Near-Death Experiences in Australia. Journal of Near-Death Studies,   24, 109.
  15. Knoblauch, H. et.al. (2001). Different Kinds of Near-Death Experience: A Report on a Survey of Near-Death Experiences in Germany. Journal of Near-Death Studies, 20, 15-29.
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  19. Kellehear, A. (2006). NDEs throughout History and across Cultures IANDS Conference Presentation: DVD. www. iands.org
  20. Sabom, M. B. (1998). Light and Death: One Doctor’s Fascinating Account of Near-Death Experiences. Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervan.
  21. van Lommel, Pim. (2001).
  22. Sharp, K.C. (1995). After the Light: What I Discovered on the Other Side of Life That Can Change Your World. Morrow, NY.
  23. Ring, K. (1999). Mindsight: Near-Death and Out-of-Body Experiences in the Blind. William James Center for Consciousness Studies.
  24. Ring, K. (1984). Heading toward Omega: In Search of the Meaning of the Near-Death Experience. William Morrow Books.
  25. Ring, K. (1980).
  26. Bush, N.E. (2006).
  27. Greyson, B. (1991). Near-Death Experiences Precipitated by Suicide Attempt: Lack of Influence of Psychopathology, Religion, and Expectations. Journal of Near-Death Studies. 9:3,
  28. Ring. K. (1980).
  29. Fenwick, P. http://www.near-death.com/experiences/suicide02.html
  30. Greyson, B. (2003). Incidence and Correlates of Near-Death Experiences in a Cardiac Care Unit. General Hospital Psychiatry. 25:269-276.
  31. Fenwick. P. (2004). Science and Spirituality: A Challenge for the 21st Century. The Bruce Greyson Lecture from the International Association for Near-Death Studies 2004 Annual Conference. http://www.iands.org/research/important_studies/ dr._peter_fenwick_m.d._science_and_spirituality.html
  32. Ring. K. (1980).
  33. Parnia, S., et al. (2001). A Qualitative and Quantitative Study of the Incidence, Features and Aetiology of Near-Death Experiences in Cardiac Arrest Survivors. Resuscitation, 48, 149-156.
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  36. Blanke, O. et.al. (2002). Stimulating illusory own-body perceptions. Nature. 419, 269-270
  37. Holden, J. (2006). Out-of-Body Experiences: All in the Brain? Journal of Near-Death Studies. 25: 99-107.
  38. Jansen, Karl. (1997). Response to Commentaries on “The Ketamine Model of the Near-Death Experience.” Journal of Near-Death Studies. 16, 79-95.
  39. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-07/jhmi-hss070506.php
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  42. Ring. K. (1998). Lessons from the Light: What We Can Learn from the Near-Death Experience. Insight Books.
  43. Flynn, C. (1982). Meanings and Implications of NDEr Transformations: Some Preliminary Findings and Implications. Anabiosis: Journal of Near-Death Studies 2: 7
  44. Noyes, R. (1980). Attitude Changes Following Near-Death Experiences. Psychiatry, 43:234-242.
  45. Greyson, B. (1992) Reduced Death Threat in Near-Death Experiencers. Death Studies. 16: 533-46
  46. Musgrave, C. (1997). The Near-Death Experience: A Study of Spiritual Transformation. Journal of Near-Death Studies. 15: 187-201.
  47. Sutherland, C. (1990). Changes.
  48. Flynn, C. (1982).
  49. Musgrave, C. (1997).
  50. Greyson, B. (1981). Near-Death Experiences and Attempted Suicide. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior. 11, 10-16.
  51. Sutherland, C. (1990).
  52. Flynn, C. (1982).
  53. Bauer, M. (1985). Near-Death Experiences and Attitudinal Change. Anabiosis: Journal of Near-Death Studies. 5. 39-46.
  54. Ring, K. (1998).
  55. Musgrave, C. (1997).
  56. Sutherland, C. (1989). Psychic Phenomena Following Near-Death Experiences: An Australian Study. Journal of Near-Death Studies 8. 99.
  57. Greyson, B. (1983). Increase in Psychic Phenomena Following Near-Death Experiences. Theta. 11: 26-29.
  58. Ring, K. (1984).
  59. Migliore. V. (2007).
  60. Thomas, W.I. and Thomas, D.S. (1928). The Child in America. New York. NY.
  61. Christian, S.R. (2005). Marital satisfaction and stability following a near-death experience of one of the marital partners. University of North Texas Dissertation. Available at http://www.unt.edu/etd/all/ August2005/Open/christian_sandra_rozan/index.htm
  62. Christian, S.R. (2005).
  63. Noyes, R. (1980).
  64. Ring, K. (1984).
  65. Stout, Y. et. al. (2006) Six Major Challenges Faced by Near-Death Experiencers. Journal of Near-Death Studies 29. 49-62.
  66. Stout, Y. (2006).
  67. Hoffman, R. (1995). Disclosure Habits After Near-Death Experiences: Influences, Obstacles, and Listener Selection. Journal of Near-Death Studies 14.30.
  68. Pennebaker, J. W. et.al. (1988). Disclosure of Traumas and Immune Function: Health Implications for Psychotherapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 56. 239-245.


updated 7.24.07

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