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NCT Number: NCT06362525

Incidence of Episodes of (Dis)Connected Consciousness Among Emergency Patients Admitted in the Resuscitation Room

This observational study aims to describe the incidence of episodes of disconnected consciousness (including near-death experience (NDE)) and episodes of connected consciousness in patients admitted to the resuscitation room, who survived a critical condition and who meet at least one of these criteria during their stay in the resuscitation room: (1) deep sedation, (2) intubation, (3) cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or (4) (non-drug-induced) Glasgow Coma Scale score = 3. We also investigate the potential (neuro)physiological markers and biomarkers. In order to help determine the potential risk factors of such episodes, cognitive factors such as dissociative propensity are also investigated. Unexpected visual and auditory stimuli will be displayed. In addition, we assess the evolution of memory, as well as short- and long-term consequences on quality of life, anxiety, and attitudes towards care.

Memory of patients who did not meet the above-mentioned criteria are also investigated. A group of 15 healthy participants will be invited to test the stimuli display.

Finally, (neuro)physiological parameters of a subsample of dying patients are also investigated.

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Key information

Conditions

Critical Illness Consciousness Disorders Consciousness, Loss of Death Disease Attributes Emergencies Near-Death Experience Nervous System Diseases Neurobehavioral Manifestations Neurologic Manifestations Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Quality of Life Signs and Symptoms Unconsciousness

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

CHU of Liège

Liège, 4000, Belgium

Location status: Recruiting

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • patients admitted in the resuscitation room of our university hospital
  • French speaking

Exclusion criteria

  • Refusal
  • Chronic disorder of consciousness
  • Deafness
  • Blindness
  • Dementia
  • Hemineglect
  • Aphasia

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

  1. Detection of potential episodes of disconnected consciousness

    Time frame: upon awakening/discharge from the resuscitation room (max 21 days after the admission in the room)

    near-death experience (using the Near-Death Experience Content scale); dream

  2. Detection of potential episodes of connected consciousness

    Time frame: upon awakening/discharge from the resuscitation room (max 21 days after the admission in the room)

    explicit recall of environmental/external stimuli upon awakening

Secondary outcomes

  1. Risk factors

    Time frame: in the resusctiation room admission

    (neuro)physiological marker; biomarker; cognitive factor

  2. Quality of life assessment

    Time frame: at 6-month

    The EuroQol five-dimension three-level questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L) comprises two sections. The first one is a five-question descriptive component which explores five dimensions (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression). Each question has three possible answers, rated from 1 to 3 (no problems, some problems and extreme problems). The second section is a visual analogue scale (EQ VAS; 0 "worst imaginable health state" to 100 "best imaginable health state") about their current health state.

  3. Memory content and evolution assessment

    Time frame: at 1-month

    The Memory Characteristics Questionnaire (MCQ). A total score can be derived summing all the 16 items (each on a 1-7 points Likert scale) and refers to as the amount of memory characteristics (i.e. higher total scores reflect greater amount of memory characteristics).

  4. Detection of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

    Time frame: at 6-month

    The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist 5 (PCL-5). Its total score can range from 0 to 80 (scores of ≥31 suggest a probable diagnosis of PTSD)

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Charlotte Martial, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+3243233612

Pauline Fritz, Ms

CONTACT

[email protected]

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Liege

Other

Collaborators

  • Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liege

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2027
First posted
Apr 12, 2024
Registry last updated
Apr 12, 2024

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

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This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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