title: Significance of multiple neurophysiological measures in patients with chronic disorders of consciousness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to verify the value of multiple neurophysiological tests in classifying disorders of consciousness (DOCs) in patients in a chronic vegetative or minimal consciousness state categorised on the basis of the Coma Recovery Scale (CRS).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 142 patients, all of whom underwent long (18h) EEG-polygraphic recordings including one night. The EEG was scored using the Synek scale and sleep patterns using an arbitrary scale. Absolute total power and relative EEG power were evaluated in different frequency bands. Multimodal evoked potentials (EPs), including auditory event-related potentials, were also evaluated and scored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most information came from the combined multimodal EPs and sleep EEG scores. A two-step cluster analysis based on the collected information allowed a satisfactory evaluation of DOC severity. Spectral EEG properties seemed to be significantly related to DOC classes and CRS scores, but did not seem to make any significant additional contribution to DOC classification.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multiple electrophysiological evaluations based on EEG, sleep polygraphic recordings and multimodal EPs are helpful in assessing DOC severity and residual functioning in patients with chronic DOCs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Simple electrophysiological measures that can be easily applied at patients' bedsides can significantly contribute to the recognition of DOC severity in chronic patients surviving a severe brain injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurophysiology-Epilepsy Center, C. Besta Foundation Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rossi Sebastiano
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurophysiology-Epilepsy Center, C. Besta Foundation Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Panzica
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurophysiology-Epilepsy Center, C. Besta Foundation Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Visani
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurophysiology-Epilepsy Center, C. Besta Foundation Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy; Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and System Engineering, University of Genova, Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rotondi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurophysiology-Epilepsy Center, C. Besta Foundation Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Scaioli
authors.affiliation: Unit of Neurology, Public Health, Disability Unit, C. Besta Foundation Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leonardi
authors.affiliation: Unit of Neurology, Public Health, Disability Unit, C. Besta Foundation Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sattin
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, C. Besta Foundation Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: D'Incerti
authors.affiliation: Department of Cerebrovascular Diseases, C. Besta Foundation Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Parati
authors.affiliation: Sleep Disorders Center, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferini Strambi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurophysiology-Epilepsy Center, C. Besta Foundation Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: franceschetti@istituto-besta.it.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Franceschetti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003243:Consciousness / Q000502:physiology*; D003244:Consciousness Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Cluster analysis; Disorders of consciousness; EEG; Evoked potentials; Relative power; Sleep score