The out-of-body experience and body image: Differences between experients and non-experients.

The present study sought to examine various aspects of body image for persons reporting a prior out-of-body experience (OBE). A total of 64 people took part in the study, 34 of whom had had an OBE. Participants reporting a previous OBE were found to score significantly higher on measures of body dissatisfaction, Social Physique Anxiety and Somatoform Dissociation, and lower on a measure of Physical Self-Presentation. OBE experients also reported lower levels of body awareness during use of an immersive virtual reality system than non-experients.