Acute stress symptoms following cardiac arrest: Result of a frightening near-death experience

Manuel Pereira Herrera; Sarah Lois Williams; Robert Reisler; Joseph Perez; Adriana Marie Fitzsimmons

doi:10.1016/j.psycr.2026.100311

Acute stress symptoms following cardiac arrest: Result of a frightening near-death experience

Manuel Pereira Herrera
, Sarah Lois Williams
, Robert Reisler
, Joseph Perez
, Adriana Marie Fitzsimmons

School of Medicine

Jersey Shore University Medical Center
Educational Strategy
Ocean University Medical Center
Florida Atlantic University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

We present a case involving a 74-year-old male patient in cardiac arrest who had a frightening near-death experience (NDE) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) attempts that lasted approximately 5 min. The patient developed acute stress symptoms and moderate-to-severe insomnia, which responded rapidly to validation and education concerning the phenomenon of NDEs, in conjunction with melatonin. This case illustrates the importance for clinicians of asking survivors of cardiac arrest whether they experienced an NDE and demonstrates the utilization of effective strategies for the reduction of resulting acute stress symptoms.

Original language	English
Article number	100311
Journal	Psychiatry Research Case Reports
Volume	5
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psycr.2026.100311
State	Published - Jun 2026

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Acute stress disorder
Cardiopulmonary
Near-death experience
Resuscitation
Sudden cardiac arrest

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10.1016/j.psycr.2026.100311

Cite this

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title = "Acute stress symptoms following cardiac arrest: Result of a frightening near-death experience",

abstract = "We present a case involving a 74-year-old male patient in cardiac arrest who had a frightening near-death experience (NDE) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) attempts that lasted approximately 5 min. The patient developed acute stress symptoms and moderate-to-severe insomnia, which responded rapidly to validation and education concerning the phenomenon of NDEs, in conjunction with melatonin. This case illustrates the importance for clinicians of asking survivors of cardiac arrest whether they experienced an NDE and demonstrates the utilization of effective strategies for the reduction of resulting acute stress symptoms.",

keywords = "Acute stress disorder, Cardiopulmonary, Near-death experience, Resuscitation, Sudden cardiac arrest",

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note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2026",

year = "2026",

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doi = "10.1016/j.psycr.2026.100311",

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AU - Herrera, Manuel Pereira

AU - Williams, Sarah Lois

AU - Reisler, Robert

AU - Perez, Joseph

AU - Fitzsimmons, Adriana Marie

PY - 2026/6

Y1 - 2026/6

N2 - We present a case involving a 74-year-old male patient in cardiac arrest who had a frightening near-death experience (NDE) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) attempts that lasted approximately 5 min. The patient developed acute stress symptoms and moderate-to-severe insomnia, which responded rapidly to validation and education concerning the phenomenon of NDEs, in conjunction with melatonin. This case illustrates the importance for clinicians of asking survivors of cardiac arrest whether they experienced an NDE and demonstrates the utilization of effective strategies for the reduction of resulting acute stress symptoms.

AB - We present a case involving a 74-year-old male patient in cardiac arrest who had a frightening near-death experience (NDE) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) attempts that lasted approximately 5 min. The patient developed acute stress symptoms and moderate-to-severe insomnia, which responded rapidly to validation and education concerning the phenomenon of NDEs, in conjunction with melatonin. This case illustrates the importance for clinicians of asking survivors of cardiac arrest whether they experienced an NDE and demonstrates the utilization of effective strategies for the reduction of resulting acute stress symptoms.

KW - Acute stress disorder

KW - Cardiopulmonary

KW - Near-death experience

KW - Resuscitation

KW - Sudden cardiac arrest

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105030485409

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DO - 10.1016/j.psycr.2026.100311

M3 - Article

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JO - Psychiatry Research Case Reports

JF - Psychiatry Research Case Reports

IS - 1

M1 - 100311

ER -

Acute stress symptoms following cardiac arrest: Result of a frightening near-death experience

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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