Target Behaviours to Identify Minimally Conscious State Patients

Target Behaviours to Identify Minimally Conscious State Patients by Using Coma Recovery Scale-Revised

To analyse the frequency of the consciousness behaviour response for patients with minimally conscious state of Coma Recovery Scale-Revised items, as well as the necessary items for obtaining higher accuracy. In addition, providing target behaviours for Coma Recovery Scale-Revised assessment of minimally conscious state diagnosis and evidence for the simplification of Coma Recovery Scale-Revised in the future.

Data were collected according to the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised operation guideline, the sum of the highest score on the evaluated subscales was taken as the final score, and the final diagnosis of patients was obtained (the highest score of each subscale was recorded). All participants were diagnosed by using Coma Recovery Scale-Revised five times at least within 7 days. According to the results of the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised assessment, minimally conscious state and unresponsive wakefulness syndrome patients were distinguished.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with medical diagnosis of prolonged disorders of consciuosness (≥28 days) were included in neurosurgery, neurology, and neurorehabilitation units.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who used neuromuscular blockers or sedatives within 72 hours of enrolment were excluded.