PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACTS OF NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE

• Autor(a) principal: Silva, Monalisa Claudia Maria da
• Data de Publicação: 2023
• Outros Autores: Moreira-Almeida, Alexander
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Interações (Uberlândia. Online)
• Texto Completo: http://periodicos.pucminas.br/index.php/interacoes/article/view/29784
• topic: Near-death experience; Mental health; Impact; Approach; Experiencia cercana a la muerte; Salud mental; Impacto; Enfoque; Experiência de quase-morte; Saúde mental; Impacto; Abordagem

Near-death experiences (NDEs) have been consistently described throughout human history, but there is still little discussion about their impact and how health professionals should address them. In this article, we will review the evidence on the psychological impacts of NDEs and how they are embraced and addressed by health professionals. Most of the time, NDEs are described as pleasant and with mostly positive impacts in the short and long term, such as greater existential meaning, spirituality, belief in life after death and less fear of death. But they can also be distressing and have negative impacts, such as frustration and difficulties in integrating experiences into everyday life. NDEs are still little explored and their reports are often rejected by health professionals. As a minimum guideline, it is recommended that health professionals be open and provide empathic listening to patients' reports of NDEs, advising them that NDEs are frequent, are not indicators of physical or mental problems and that they generally have a positive impact. It can also be advised that for some people NDEs can be distressing and that help will be available if needed. Investigating NDEs will enable relevant discussions in the field of health: qualified listening, finitude, embracement and mind-brain relationship.