Personalized Objects Can Improve the Diagnosis of EMCS From MCS

The Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) is an important tool for the assessment of behaviors in DOC.Clinical practice has shown that self-referential stimuli, such as the patient's own name and face, are more effective to elicit the patient's response than that of non-self-referential stimuli.

The item "Functional Object Use" was assessed by using personalized objects (e.g., cigarette, paper) and non-personalized objects, which presented in a random order.The rest assessments were performed following the standard protocol of CRS-R. The differences between functional use of the two types of objects was analyzed by Chi-square test.

Researchers expected to see some of the patients in MCS are re-diagnosed as EMCS with the using of personalized objects.

Inclusion criteria

• patients in minimally conscious state;
• patients with stable condition;
• each patient has athletic ability to some extent.

Exclusion criteria

• premorbid neurology antecedent;
• patients in coma or vegetative state;
• patients < 1 months after the acute brain injury.