Betty, L. S. (2006). Are they hallucinations or are they real? The spirituality of deathbed and near-death visions. OMEGA, 53(1-2) 27-49.

Abstract: The focus here is mainly on visions of deceased relatives and friends that persons near death often report. Are they visions of real people who live in an afterlife environment or are they hallucinations? Most social scientists assume they are hallucinations, but a thorough and careful analysis of the evidence does not point to this conclusion. The argument for the reality of such visions is muddied, however, by aspects of the visions that are dependent on the personal histories of the percipients and suggest, in some cases, illusory content. A theory that makes sense of all aspects of these visions is developed and defended, then tied into our theme: the spirituality of death.

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Topics:
Altered States and NDEs
Characteristics of NDEs—Encountering Beings, Deceased or Living
Characteristics of NDEs—Sensory, Vision
Healing and NDEs—Psychological
Interpretations of NDEs
Language and NDEs
Nearing Death and NDEs—Deathbed Visions
Psychopathology and NDEs—Hallucinations
Spirituality and NDEs
Veridical Perception during NDEs

Brumm, K. (2006). A study of near-death experiences and coping with stress Journal of Near-Death Studies, 24(3) 153-173.

Abstract: This study investigates the effect of near-death experience (NDE) on an experiencer's ability to cope with stress. The intent of the study is to determine whether changes reported by experiencers have a practical, psychological application in their day-to-day lives. The test group included 18 participants of support groups sponsored by the International Association for Near-Death Studies (IANDS), all of whom reported having experienced an NDE. The control group consisted of 25 participants of the same support groups, none of whom reported having experienced an NDE. Questionnaires were distributed to all individuals. Results showed that 94 percent of experiencers felt their NDE positively affected how they responded to stress, and 86 percent of the control group felt that exposure to NDEs had the same positive effect on their response to stress. One hundred percent of experiencers and 91 percent of nonexperiencers felt that significant life events, whether positive or negative, were imbued with meaning. The findings suggest that a philosophical framework that imparts meaning to life events, and not necessarily an NDE, has a positive effect on a person's ability to cope with stress.

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Link: http://www.iands.org

Topics:
Accounts of NDEs—Autobiographical
Aftereffects of NDEs—Emotional
Aftereffects of NDEs—Orientation to Death
Aftereffects of NDEs—Orientation to Life
Aftereffects of NDEs—Paranormal Phenomena
Aftereffects of NDEs—Physical Changes
Aftereffects of NDEs—Religion
Aftereffects of NDEs—Relationships (familial, social)
Aftereffects of NDEs—Sense of Self, Psychological and Physical
Aftereffects of NDEs NOS
Afterlife, Belief in
Characteristics of NDErs—Age, Adults
Characteristics of NDErs—Age, Children-Adolescents
Characteristics of NDErs—Gender
Characteristics of NDEs—Emotions, Pleasurable
Characteristics of NDEs—Encountering Beings, Spiritual
Characteristics of NDEs—Increased Knowledge, Thoughts
Characteristics of NDEs—Life Review
Characteristics of NDEs—Parapsychological Phenomena, Precognition
Characteristics of NDEs—Return, Voluntary
Characteristics of NDEs—Tunnel Experiences
Circumstances of NDEs—Accident
Circumstances of NDEs—Consciousness and Unconsciousness
Circumstances of NDEs—Hospital
Circumstances of NDEs—Illness
Circumstances of NDEs—Induced Chemically
Healing and NDEs—Psychological
Health Care Professionals and NDEs—Medical
Health Care Professionals and NDEs—Psychological
Health Care Professionals and NDEs—Social Workers
Health Care Professionals and NDEs—Spiritual (chaplains, clergy)
Methodology in NDE Research
Reactions to NDEr—by Family, Spouse
Spirituality and NDEs

Carter, C. (2011). Response to "Could Pam Reynolds Hear?" Journal of Near-Death Studies, 30(1) 29-53.

Abstract: The near-death experience (NDE) of Pam Reynolds is one of the most impressive and medically well-documented NDEs in the literature. It took place during an operation to remove a brain aneurism, and it included almost all the aspects of a classic NDE, including accurate visual perception of the operating theater. Furthermore, parts of the experience would seem to have occurred when no brain activity whatsoever was possible. Despite testimony to the contrary by the medical personnel involved, Gerald Woerlee has attempted to explain Reynolds’ experience as a result of auditory impressions combined with an anesthesia-induced fantasy. I argue here that Woerlee’s attempted explanation is simply unsupported by the documented facts of the case. I also invite Woerlee to accompany me to the Barrow Neurological Institute to participate in an empirical test under the exact auditory conditions Reynolds experienced.

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Link: http://www.iands.org

Topics:
Altered States and NDEs
Characteristics of NDErs—Gender
Characteristics of NDEs—Autoscopy, Out-of-Body
Characteristics of NDEs—Sensory, Sound, Hearing
Characteristics of NDEs—Sensory, Sound, Music
Characteristics of NDEs—Sensory, Sound NOS
Circumstances of NDEs—Consciousness and Unconsciousness
Circumstances of NDEs—Hospital
Circumstances of NDEs—Illness
Explanations of NDEs—Parapsychological
Explanations of NDEs—Physiological, Neurological, Brain
Explanations of NDEs—Physiological NOS
Health Care Professionals and NDEs—Medical
Mental Processes and NDEs
Psychopharmacology and NDEs—Anesthesia
Science and NDEs
Veridical Perception during NDEs

Clark Sharp, K. (2007). The other shoe drops: Commentary on "Does paranormal perception occur in near-death experiences?" Journal of Near-Death Studies, 25(4) 245-250.

Abstract: Keith Augustine raises questions about my report of a case of veridical out-of-body perception during a near-death experience (NDE). His analysis is based not on my original description of the case but rather on a distorted account in a magazine written by two college students who misrepresented the facts and made unwarranted assumptions to support their beliefs.

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Link: http://www.iands.org

Topics:
Media Treatment of NDEs
Veridical Perception during NDEs

Corazza, O., & Schifano, F. (2010). Near-death states reported in a sample of 50 misusers Substance Use & Misuse, 45(6) 916-924.

Abstract: Increase in recreational ketamine use may be a cause for concern. We aimed here at assessing, in a sample of ketamine misusers, concordance between the typical near-death experience (NDE) features and the on-drug psychoactive effects the subjects experienced. In 2003–2005, a sample of previous ketamine misusers recollecting a ketamine-related NDE were recruited through snowballing and screened with the means of the Greyson NDE Scale; 125 participants made an initial contact with the researcher and 50 reported a minimum score of seven at the “Greyson NDE Scale”. Interviewees were in the range 21–66 years old; 27 participants (54%) were educated at BA level, 18 (36%) had an MSc, and 5 (10%) a PhD. Eight (16%) interviewees had a definite religious background. An average lifetime ketamine intake of 140 occasions was reportedby the interviewees, who typically presented with a polydrug, including cannabis and MDMA/ecstasy, misuse history. In 45 (90%) cases, the NDE occurred during the first few occasions of intake. Most frequent features of reported NDE states included: altered perception of time (90%), strong sense of detaching from own physical body (88%), and a sense of peace/joy (76% of subjects). Although results here described were elicited from a self-selected, nonrandomized, limited size sample of misusers, we suggest that recreational ketamine intake may be associated with occurrence of near-death related states.

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Topics:
Altered States and NDEs
Characteristics of NDErs—Age, Adults
Characteristics of NDErs—Education Level
Characteristics of NDErs—Gender
Characteristics of NDErs—Marital Status
Characteristics of NDErs—Psychological Profile
Characteristics of NDErs—Religious Affiliations
Characteristics of NDErs NOS
Characteristics of NDEs—Autoscopy, Out-of-Body
Characteristics of NDEs—Emotions, Pleasurable
Characteristics of NDEs—Encountering Beings, Deceased or Living
Characteristics of NDEs—Encountering Beings, Spiritual
Characteristics of NDEs—Increased Knowledge, Thoughts
Characteristics of NDEs—Life Review
Characteristics of NDEs—Light, Mystical
Characteristics of NDEs—Otherworldly Environments
Characteristics of NDEs—Parapsychological Phenomena, ESP
Characteristics of NDEs—Parapsychological Phenomena, Precognition
Characteristics of NDEs—Perception of Time
Characteristics of NDEs—Return NOS
Characteristics of NDEs—Sensory, Sound, Hearing
Characteristics of NDEs—Sensory, Vision
Characteristics of NDEs—Sensory NOS
Characteristics of NDEs—Tunnel Experiences
Circumstances of NDEs—Induced Chemically
Interpretations of NDEs
Language and NDEs
Methodology in NDE Research
Psychopharmacology and NDEs—Anesthesia