ABSTRACT
Background:
It is not rare that
intensive care unit (ICU)
patients report unusual subjective experiences, ranging from a
feeling of harmony with the
environment to complex phenomena such as
near-death experience (NDE). This 1-year
follow-up study investigates the characteristics and potential global impact of the NDE memories recalled by ICU
survivors.
Method:
We prospectively enrolled 126
adult survivors of a prolonged (>7days) ICU stay (all etiologies), including 19 (15 %)
who reported a NDE as identified by the Greyson NDE scale. The NDE group underwent a semi-structured
interview one month later evaluating their
memory characteristics and the associated
life-threatening situation. One year after inclusion, all
patients (regardless of whether they recalled an NDE) were contacted for a follow-up Greyson NDE scale assessment and questions about their ICU experience and
opinions on
death since discharge.
Results:
The Greyson NDE scale revealed that the most frequently reported features were altered
time perception, heightened senses and
life review, and the Greyson total scores did not evolve over
time. NDE memories persisted, with a consequent number of phenomenological characteristics (e.g., visual details,
emotions). One year post-ICU, two
patients (18 %) of the NDE group and 12 (24 %) of the non-NDE group were less afraid of
death.
Conclusions:
Results emphasize the
clinical importance of interviewing all ICU
patients to explore any
memory after an ICU stay.