title: A French validation study of the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to explore the concurrent validity, inter-rater agreement and diagnostic sensitivity of a French adaptation of the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) as compared to other coma scales such as the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), the Full Outline of UnResponsiveness scale (FOUR) and the Wessex Head Injury Matrix (WHIM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Multi-centric prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  To test concurrent validity and diagnostic sensitivity, the four behavioural scales were administered in a randomized order in 77 vegetative and minimally conscious patients. Twenty-four clinicians with different professional backgrounds, levels of expertise and CRS-R experience were recruited to assess inter-rater agreement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Good concurrent validity was obtained between the CRS-R and the three other standardized behavioural scales. Inter-rater reliability for the CRS-R total score and sub-scores was good, indicating that the scale yields reproducible findings across examiners and does not appear to be systematically biased by profession, level of expertise or CRS-R experience. Finally, the CRS-R demonstrated a significantly higher sensitivity to detect MCS patients, as compared to the GCS, the FOUR and the WHIM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results show that the French version of the CRS-R is a valid and sensitive scale which can be used in severely brain damaged patients by all members of the medical staff.
authors.affiliation: Coma Science Group, Cyclotron Research Centre, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium. c.schnakers@student.ulg.ac.be
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schnakers
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Majerus
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Giacino
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vanhaudenhuyse
authors.forename: Marie-Aurelie
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boly
authors.forename: Gustave
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moonen
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Damas
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lambermont
authors.forename: Maurice
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lamy
authors.forename: Francois
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Damas
authors.forename: Manfredi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ventura
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Laureys
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003128:Coma / Q000175:diagnosis; D003243:Consciousness / Q000502:physiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D015588:Observer Variation; D018458:Persistent Vegetative State / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices