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Near-Death Experiences, Post-Traumatic
Stress, and Supernormal Abilities in a
Latin American Sample
Alex A. Alvarez, PhD; Rodrigo Arriola-Godoy, MSc;
and Rams6s D'Le6n, BSc
Unidad Parapsicol6gica de la Investigaci6n, Difusi6n
y Enseianza (UPIDE)
ABSTRACT: Near-death experiences (NDEs) have been associated with a series
of aftereffects in different aspects of experiencers' lives, including psychologi-
cal, spiritual, social, and even psychical. In this online study, we explored the
incidence of these kinds of effects in a sample of Spanish-speaking near-death
experiencers, most from Latin America, who were recruited through various
Facebook groups related to NDEs, thanatology, or the topic of death in general.
We found that most of our 128 participants reported significant changes regard-
ing beliefs and attitudes toward themselves and others as well as an increase in
psychic or supernormal abilities. In addition, we identified a positive correlation
between the depth of the NDE and transliminality, as well as a negative correla-
tion between the depth of the experience and the probability of developing symp-
toms related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These results could have
clinical implications in the treatment of patients who develop psychological dis-
tress after an NDE. Finally, we suggest a possible biological trait that is changed
because of the NDE itself and that might be involved in the development of
supernormal abilities. Overall, similarity of our participants' responses to re-
sponses of participants in previous studies of predominantly English-speaking
samples contributes to a growing perspective of the similarity of NDE features
and aftereffects across cultures.
Alex A. Alvarez, PhD, with master's and doctoral degrees in evolutionary biology,
is Associate Researcher at Unidad Parapsicol6gica de la Investigaci6n, Difusi6n y
Ensenanza (Unit of Parapsychological Investigation, Dissemination, and Education
[UPIDE]) based in Mexico City, Mexico. Rodrigo Arriola-Godoy, MSc, is Associ-
ate Researcher at UPIDE specializing in Clinical Psychology and Psychophysiology.
Ramses D'Le6n, BSc, is UPIDE's Chief Researcher, specializing in the fields of
Parapsychology and Transpersonal Psychology. The authors wish to thank Daniel
Granados for his help in designing the study, creating research-authored items, and as-
sisting in the early recruitment process. They declare that the research was conducted
in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as
a potential conflict of interest. Correspondence regarding this article should be sent to
Dr. Alvarez at email: a.alvarez@upide.org.
40 Journal of Near-Death Studies, 41(1), Spring 2023 2023 IANDS
https://doi.org/10.17514/JNDS-2023-41-1-p40-66
