Greyson NDE scale

 The Greyson Near-Death Experience (NDE) Scale, developed by psychiatrist Bruce Greyson in 1983, is a 16-item self-report questionnaire designed to assess the depth and characteristics of near-death experiences. It has become a widely used tool in near-death studies due to its strong psychometric properties and clinical utility.

Key Features of the Greyson NDE Scale

• Structure: The scale comprises 16 items that evaluate various dimensions of NDEs, including cognitive, affective, paranormal, and transcendental experiences. 
• Scoring: Each item is rated on a 4-point Likert scale, with total scores ranging from 0 to 32. A score of 7 or higher is typically used as the threshold to identify a near-death experience. 
• Psychometric Strengths:
  
• Internal Consistency: Demonstrates high internal consistency, indicating that the items are cohesively measuring the same construct.
• Split-Half Reliability: Shows strong split-half reliability, suggesting that the scale produces consistent results across different halves of the test.
• Test-Retest Reliability: Exhibits good test-retest reliability, ensuring stability over time.
• Concurrent Validity: Highly correlated with Kenneth Ring’s Weighted Core Experience Index, another measure of NDE depth.  
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• Clinical Utility: The scale is effective in distinguishing genuine NDEs from other conditions, such as organic brain syndromes or nonspecific stress responses, making it valuable in both clinical and research settings. 

Limitations and Considerations

While the Greyson NDE Scale is a robust tool, some researchers have noted limitations. The scale’s reliance on subjective self-report and the use of terms like “unearthly” or “mystical” can lead to misclassification of experiences that are not genuinely near-death-related. Additionally, the absence of explicit criteria linking experiences to life-threatening events may result in false positives if the scale is applied outside its intended context. 

Further Developments

In response to some of these limitations, the Near-Death Experience Content (NDE-C) Scale was developed in 2020. This 20-item scale aims to provide a more nuanced assessment of NDEs, addressing some of the conceptual and methodological issues identified in earlier instruments. 

If you’re interested in exploring the Greyson NDE Scale further, the full text of the original 1983 publication is available here:  .

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The Greyson Near-Death Experience (NDE) Scale is the most widely used tool for studying and identifying near-death experiences. It was created in 1983 by psychiatrist Bruce Greyson.

Here’s a clear breakdown:

🔹 Structure

• 16 questions divided into 4 categories:
  
1. Cognitive changes (altered perception of time, thoughts speeding up, life review, sudden understanding).
2. Affective (emotional) changes (feelings of peace, joy, cosmic unity, unconditional love).
3. Paranormal experiences (extrasensory perception, out-of-body experiences, visions of spirits).
4. Transcendental experiences (sense of being in another realm, encountering mystical beings, perceiving a boundary between life and death).
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🔹 Scoring

• Each item is rated 0–2:
  
• 0 = not present
• 1 = mildly or ambiguously present
• 2 = strongly present
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• Total score range: 0 to 32
• Cutoff for NDE: A score of 7 or higher is considered evidence of an NDE.

🔹 Reliability

• High internal consistency (all items measure the same general phenomenon).
• Good test–retest reliability (stable over time).
• Validated against other NDE measures like Ring’s Core Experience Index.

🔹 Example Questions

(Paraphrased so you get the sense of it)

• Did you feel time speed up, slow down, or stop?
• Did scenes from your past come back to you?
• Did you feel separated from your body?
• Did you see a brilliant light?
• Did you sense a boundary you could not cross?
• Did you feel a sense of unity with the universe?

👉 The Greyson Scale is used in medical, psychological, and spiritual research to distinguish true NDEs from hallucinations, trauma reactions, or dreams.

Would you like me to show you the full 16-item Greyson Scale in its questionnaire form so you can see how it’s actually administered?