Assessment of Consciousness After Severe Brain Injury: Comparison of CRS-R and SECONDs

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating diagnostic methods to better assess consciousness levels in patients with severe brain injury. This study focuses on improving the accuracy and feasibility of evaluating consciousness disorders, such as coma, Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome (UWS), and Minimally Conscious State (MCS). The study compares two behavioral assessment tools: the widely used Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) and a newer, shorter tool called the Simplified Evaluation of CONsciousness Disorders (SECONDs). Participants will undergo structured behavioral assessments using both the SECONDs and CRS-R tools during a neurological rehabilitation phase. The study will analyze the diagnostic consistency and clinical relevance of SECONDs compared to CRS-R, aiming to confirm whether SECONDs offers a reliable and quicker alternative for routine clinical use. The study also includes a follow-up 12 months later to evaluate long-term functional outcomes based on initial SECONDs assessments. During the study, patients will be assessed shortly after admission to rehabilitation (6-8 days) using both tools. Follow-up information will be collected via structured telephone interviews with relatives or legal representatives to monitor patients' functional status one year later. Researchers will measure agreement between SECONDs and CRS-R scores, diagnostic stability, prognostic value for long-term outcomes, and the practical feasibility of SECONDs in clinical settings.

Assessment of Consciousness With CRS-R and SECONDs