A Johns Hopkins study reveals striking similarities between drug-induced and spontaneous near-death experiences
At a time when the fear of death is plunging many people into existential crises—especially in the face of terminal illness or in old age—a groundbreaking study from Johns Hopkins University sheds new light on two seemingly completely different phenomena: near-death experiences and psychedelic experiences. The research, published in PLOS ONE in August 2022, shows that both types of experiences can have remarkably similar effects on attitudes toward death and life.
The research team led by Roland R. Griffiths analyzed online survey data from 3,192 people who reported that a single experience had fundamentally changed their beliefs about death and dying. The participants were divided into five groups:
The study provided a detailed account of the circumstances surrounding the experience, mystical and near-death-related subjective characteristics, changes in attitudes toward death, and other lasting effects.
Roland Griffiths summarizes the study’s key message: “The characteristics of psychedelic experiences may not only resemble near-death experiences—both are considered among the most significant life experiences, and both produce similar lasting reductions in fear of death and increases in well-being.”
Although both groups—psychedelic and non-drug participants—showed significant increases in standardized measures of mystical and near-death experiences, these scores were significantly higher among the psychedelic participants.
This means that psychedelic experiences appear to evoke more intense mystical qualities, such as:
At the same time, they also exhibited more pronounced characteristics typical of near-death experiences:
A fascinating finding: Participants who did not use drugs were more likely to describe their experiences as the single most significant, spiritually meaningful, insightful, and challenging experience of their lives.
This suggests that near-death experiences—even though psychedelic experiences exhibited more intense mystical qualities—are perceived as even more significant for personal identity. This may be due to the immediate confrontation with one’s own mortality or to the fact that they occur completely involuntarily and unexpectedly.
Within the psychedelic groups, some interesting nuances emerged:
When comparing various psychedelic substances, the ayahuasca and DMT groups tended to report stronger and more positive long-term effects of the experience than the psilocybin and LSD groups, which were largely indistinguishable from one another.
There could be several reasons for this:
As previous studies have shown, the psilocybin and LSD groups were virtually indistinguishable in their reports—despite their different molecular structures and durations of effect.
Both types of experiences—psychedelic and spontaneous—led to lasting reductions in fear of death. This is particularly noteworthy because fear of death is often deeply ingrained, and conventional therapeutic approaches have only limited success.
The participants reported:
These experiences not only led to less anxiety, but also to more:
Many participants reported fundamental shifts in what matters to them:
This research raises fundamental questions about the nature of consciousness:
It is possible that both psychedelic substances and near-death experiences activate similar brain regions or neurochemical systems. Psychedelics primarily act through serotonin 2A receptors, but near-death experiences could also—due to oxygen deprivation, stress, or other factors—trigger endogenous neurochemical changes that produce similar states of consciousness.
An alternative interpretation: Both types of experiences could provide access to deeper states of consciousness that are normally obscured by the filtering function of our everyday waking consciousness. From this perspective, both psychedelics and near-death experiences would temporarily suspend these filters.
The research emphasizes that the context of the experience is crucial:
With near-death experiences, the “setting” is, of course, beyond our control—they occur unexpectedly. With psychedelic experiences, however, research shows that careful preparation, therapeutic support, and a safe environment greatly increase the likelihood of positive, transformative experiences.
Previous research has shown that near-death experiences possess an exceptional quality of memory. Studies have shown that NDE memories contain more characteristics than memories of real-life events and memories from comas, suggesting that they cannot be regarded as imagined memories of events.
These memories:
Interestingly, this also applies to intense psychedelic experiences, which are likewise remembered with remarkable clarity for years to come.
This research could inform studies on the clinical use of psychedelics in the treatment of mood disorders and other psychiatric conditions, such as anxiety at the end of life.
Recent clinical studies show promising results in:
A fascinating paradox: To reduce the fear of death, it seems helpful to have an experience that, in a sense, “simulates” death or provides insight into what might come after. This stands in contrast to conventional therapeutic approaches, which often seek to avoid confronting death or to rationally reframe it.
Systematic analyses have classified near-death experiences into four main categories:
The most common near-death experiences were supernatural experiences, particularly the experience of leaving the body.
The authors point out some important limitations:
What science cannot answer—and perhaps never will—is the ontological question: Are these experiences “merely” neurobiological events occurring in a dying or altered brain, or do they provide access to a transcendent reality that exists independently of the physical world?
Research can describe:
But she cannot definitively determine whether these experiences open windows to another dimension of reality or “merely” represent extraordinary states of human consciousness.
Not all near-death experiences are peaceful and positive. Research shows that there are three different types of distressing experiences:
These traumatic experiences can have profound and long-lasting psychological effects and deserve special therapeutic attention.
These findings have direct relevance for the care of the dying:
Research highlights the importance of:
This research contributes to:
In Western societies, death is often a taboo subject, relegated to hospitals and nursing homes, and removed from our daily lives. At the same time, millions of people suffer from existential anxiety, especially when faced with terminal illnesses or in old age.
This research offers a scientifically grounded perspective on phenomena that for centuries were reserved exclusively for religious or spiritual frameworks of interpretation. It shows:
The Johns Hopkins study impressively demonstrates that not only can the characteristics of psychedelic experiences resemble those of near-death experiences—both are considered among the most significant life experiences, and both produce similar lasting reductions in fear of death and increases in well-being.
This research builds bridges:
Ultimately, this research reminds us that human consciousness is capable of extraordinary transformations—and that confronting our mortality, whether through a near-death experience or a psychedelic journey, has the potential to fill us not with fear, but with peace, meaning, and a deeper appreciation for the precious gift of life.
Dr. Lucas Pawlik
Source: Sweeney MM, Nayak S, Hurwitz ES, Mitchell LN, Swift TC, Griffiths RR (2022) Comparison of psychedelic and near-death or other non-ordinary experiences in changing attitudes about death and dying. PLoS ONE 17(8): e0271926.
Mycoverse Foundation
, Marktgass 11,
, 9490 Vaduz,
, Principality of Liechtenstein
Home | Vision | Projekte | Artikel | Vorstand/Beirat | Shop | Kontakt | Impressum/Datenschutz | Manage Cookie Settings