title: Standard EEG in diagnostic process of prolonged disorders of consciousness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This cross-sectional study assessed the ability of standard EEG in distinguishing vegetative state (VS) from minimally conscious state plus (MCS+) or MCS minus (MCS-), and to correlate EEG features with aetiology and level of responsiveness assessed by Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R).
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed background EEG activity and EEG reactivity to eye opening and closing and to tactile, acoustic, nociceptive stimuli and Intermittent Photic Stimulation (IPS) in 73 inpatients (VS=37, MCS-=11, MCS+=25), with traumatic (n=21), vascular (n=25) or anoxic (n=27) aetiology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients, but one, showed abnormal background activity. EEG abnormalities were more severe in VS than in MCS+ or MCS-, and in anoxic than other aetiologies. MCS+ patients with normal or Mildly Abnormal background activity showed higher scores on CRS-R than patients with moderate to severe EEG abnormalities. Reactivity to IPS, and acoustic stimuli was significantly more frequent in MCS+ and MCS- than in VS patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EEG features differ between VS and MCS- or MCS+ patients and can provide evidence of relative sparing of thalamocortical connections in MCS+ patients. In anoxic patients EEG organization is more severely impaired and provides less discriminative diagnostic information.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conventional EEG can help clinicians to disentangle VS from MCS patients.
authors.affiliation: Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, IRCCS, Scientific Institute of Telese Terme (BN), Via Bagni Vecchi 1, 82037 Telese Terme (BN), Italy. Electronic address: anna.estraneo@fsm.it.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Estraneo
authors.affiliation: Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, IRCCS, Scientific Institute of Telese Terme (BN), Via Bagni Vecchi 1, 82037 Telese Terme (BN), Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Loreto
authors.affiliation: Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, IRCCS, Scientific Institute of Telese Terme (BN), Via Bagni Vecchi 1, 82037 Telese Terme (BN), Italy.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Guarino
authors.affiliation: Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, IRCCS, Scientific Institute of Telese Terme (BN), Via Bagni Vecchi 1, 82037 Telese Terme (BN), Italy.
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Boemia
authors.affiliation: Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, IRCCS, Scientific Institute of Telese Terme (BN), Via Bagni Vecchi 1, 82037 Telese Terme (BN), Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paone
authors.affiliation: Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, IRCCS, Scientific Institute of Telese Terme (BN), Via Bagni Vecchi 1, 82037 Telese Terme (BN), Italy.
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moretta
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychology Lab., Dept. of Psychology, Second University of Naples, Viale Ellittico 31, 81100 Caserta, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Trojano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018458:Persistent Vegetative State / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
keywords: Disorders of consciousness; EEG background activity; EEG reactivity; Minimally conscious state; Rehabilitation; Vegetative state