Near-death experience (NDE): A review of the literature

This paper provides a review of the literature on near-death experience (NDE). Several recurring features of NDE, and their frequency, are presented. The issue of cultural variations of NDE being the subject of a debate, we chose to present the data that support the cultural invariance hypothesis, but also those that reveal the impact of culture. In light of recent research in neurophysiology and psychology, several mechanisms potentially involved in NDE are described and discussed in relation to the two main current theoretical approaches that dominate this topic (i.e. “in-brain” and “out-of-brain” approaches). In a more applied perspective, it appears that NDE leads to positive life changes, but also to major disruptions that raise the question of the therapeutic care of patients who have experienced an NDE.