Bateman Lynda, Jones Catriona, Jomeen Julie
J Midwifery Womens Health. 2017 Jul;62(4):442-451. doi: 10.1111/jmwh.12655. Epub 2017 Jul 21.
Some women have a dissociated, out-of-body experience (OBE) during childbirth, which may be described as seeing the body from above or floating above the body. This review examines this phenomenon using narratives from women who have experienced intrapartum OBEs.
A narrative synthesis of qualitative research was employed to systematically synthesize OBE narratives from existing studies. Strict inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. The included papers were critiqued by 2 of the authors to determine the appropriateness of the narrative synthesis method, procedural transparency, and soundness of the interpretive approach.
Women experiencing OBEs during labor and birth report a disembodied state in the presence of stress or trauma. Three forms of OBEs are described: floating above the scene, remaining close to the scene, or full separation of a body part from the main body. Women had clear recall of OBEs, describing the experience and point of occurrence. Women who reported OBEs had experienced current or previous traumatic childbirth, or trauma in a non-birth situation. OBEs as prosaic experiences were not identified.
OBEs are part of the lived experience of some women giving birth. The OBEs in this review were trauma related with some women disclosing previous posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is not evident whether there is a connection between PTSD and OBEs at present, and OBEs may serve as a potential coping mechanism in the presence of trauma. Clinicians should legitimize women's disclosure of OBEs and explore and ascertain their impact, either as a normal coping mechanism or a precursor to perinatal mental illness. Research into the function of OBEs and any relationship to PTSD may assist in early interventions for childbearing women.
一些女性在分娩过程中会有分离性的出体体验（OBE），这种体验可能被描述为从上方看到自己的身体或漂浮在身体上方。本综述通过有分娩期出体体验的女性的叙述来研究这一现象。
采用定性研究的叙述性综合方法，系统地综合现有研究中的出体体验叙述。应用了严格的纳入和排除标准。两位作者对纳入的论文进行了评判，以确定叙述性综合方法的适当性、程序透明度和解释方法的合理性。
在分娩时经历出体体验的女性报告称，在面临压力或创伤时会处于一种脱离身体的状态。描述了三种出体体验形式：漂浮在场景上方、靠近场景、身体的一部分与主体完全分离。女性对出体体验有清晰的记忆，描述了体验过程和发生点。报告有出体体验的女性经历过当前或以前的创伤性分娩，或在非分娩情况下受过创伤。未发现出体体验是平淡无奇的经历。
出体体验是一些分娩女性生活经历的一部分。本综述中的出体体验与创伤有关，一些女性披露了以前的创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）。目前尚不清楚PTSD与出体体验之间是否存在联系，出体体验可能是在创伤情况下的一种潜在应对机制。临床医生应认可女性对出体体验的披露，并探索和确定其影响，无论是作为一种正常的应对机制还是围产期精神疾病的先兆。对出体体验的功能及其与PTSD的任何关系的研究可能有助于对育龄妇女进行早期干预。
