Impact of a near-death experience and religious conversion on the mental health of a criminal: case report and literature review.

OBJECTIVE Near-death experiences have been defined as profound psychological events that may occur to a person while close to death or in a situation of extreme physical or emotional distress. These experiences seem to have an important effect on the patients' mental health and may occur in several situations despite their cultural and religious beliefs. CASE DESCRIPTION The present case report describes the positive impact of a near-death experience (Greyson scale > 7) followed by religious conversion on the mental health of a former prisoner. COMMENTS Investigation of the role of near-death experiences by the scientific community could shed light on the coping mechanisms and moral/ethical transformations that take place in these individuals.