Posttraumatic stress symptoms following near-death experiences

Persons who report "near-death experiences" (NDEs) acknowledge more intrusi ve symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than those who came clo se to death without NDEs, but not more avoidance Symptoms, suggesting a non specific stress response, Although dissociation generally increases vulnera bility to PTSD, the positive affect that distinguishes NDEs from other diss ociative experiences may mitigate subsequent PTSD symptoms.