Descriptive and cognitive-perceptual examination of near-death experiences in an Argentine sample: A comparative...

Near-death experiences (NDEs) are lucid events that some people have suddenly experienced in the face of imminent death. Often having been declared clinically dead, they recover with memories of emotions, images, or voices after a resuscitation process. The purpose of this study is to examine an Argentine sample of NDEs and compare individuals who experienced various NDE traits that occurred under a criterion of Medically Diagnosed Clinical Death (MDCD) with those without this criterion. The study considers cognitive-perceptual, affective, paranormal, spiritual, and existential traits. In addition, we predict a positive and significant correlation between NDEs with cognitive-perceptual features, positive/negative affectivity, paranormal, and transcendent traits. Through an online survey, a sample of individuals with MDCD (N = 196) and another without MDCD (N = 392) were recruited. The most commonly found NDE characteristics were: Out-of-body experiences (87%), New realm/dimension (85%), Return to the body (81%), Re-evaluating life (85%), Intellectual improvement (81%), Anxiety/Depression (80/77%), Peace (91%), and Extrasensory Experiences (75%) were the most common. Those with MDCD found their NDEs less disturbing if they were accompanied by medical and nursing care, which often helped them to process these experiences. The conviction that their lives have been protected by medical services may reframe the value of their NDEs.