October 2025
Psychologists and other clinicians lack a proper understanding of anomalous spiritual experiences such as near-death-experiences, and past-life-memories, leading researchers suggest.
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A patient who claims to have communicated with a deceased loved one, or to have come back from the dead, should be validated and their story therapeutically investigated. If that patient claims to have past-life memories, the therapist should be alert for persistent traumas.
Those are some conclusions of researchers at University of Virginia’s Division of Perceptual Studies (DOPS), and the Research Center on Spirituality and Health (NUPES) at Brazi’s Federal University.
A “medical gap of care” exists between clinicians and patients who have had Near-Death Experiences (NDE), Out-of-Body Experiences (OBE), After-Death Communications (ADC), or past-life-memories, according to an article published on 29 September in Psychiatric Times by four DOPS researchers.
The gap is between clinicians’ knowledge of cutting edge research in the science of consciousness, and patients’ anomalous experiences. Improved knowledge and training will reduce misdiagnosis, and improve patient care, the researchers concluded.
“Extraordinary human experiences such as NDEs, OBEs, ADCs, and children’s past-life memories challenge psychiatry to move beyond a narrow illness-based lens and toward a more nuanced understanding of consciousness and wellbeing, said the article, co-authored by Marina Weiler, Marieta Pehlivanova, Philip J. Cozzolino, and Kim Penberthy.
A recent related study by DOPS researchers, published in Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research and Practice, expanded on therapy issues of NDE patients.
Therapists also need to recognise that some anomalous experiences may bring trauma. DOPS noted children who have past-life memories often have phobias apparently linked to the death of their previous self.
Separate research published this summer found these traumas can carry into adulthood. Adults who say they remember previous lives report mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and PSTD at rates far above typical levels, even compared to patients who work in many high-stress professions. Spiritual practices are effective at easing such traumas, noted the study, which was published in The International Journal of Psychology of Religion. It was led by Sandra Maciel de Carvalho at NUPES. Joining the study were Alexander Moreira-Almeida of NUPES and Jim Tucker at DOPS.
Most therapists agree they should receive more training in religion/spirituality competencies, according to an academic survey conducted earlier this year. Training might be most urgent for dealing with clients with anomalous spiritual experiences.
The research by Dr. Weiler, et. al., found that while they are called anomalous, such experiences occur across cultures. For instance, 10 percent to18 percent of cardiac arrest survivors report NDEs, according to DOPS, and 25-60 percent of mourners experience some form of communication with deceased loved ones. These experiences often have profound psychological impacts, mostly positive, but sometimes negative. Patients often are reluctant to discuss them.
Written by Tom Zolper
Edited by Liza Horan
