Sandra Lundgren

A measure of neurobehavioral functioning after coma. Part I: Theory, reliability, and validity of the Disorders of Consciousness Scale

This is longitudinal validation study describes the psychometric properties of the Disorders of Consciousness Scale (DOCS). This is Part I of a two-part series. Part II illustrates and describes the clinical and scientific implementation of the DOCS measure. The study was conducted at one intensive care unit, two acute rehabilitation hospitals, and one long-term acute chronic care hospital. Participants were unconscious after severe brain injury (BI). We conducted interrater reliability analyses using ratings from interdisciplinary pairs. Results indicated a higher-than-expected level of agreement and no significant difference between any pairs ( chi-square = 8(5df), p = 0.15) (df = degrees of freedom). Examinations of ratings by discipline groups indicated that the DOCS is impacted minimally by discipline. Validity analyses demonstrate that 23 of 34 test stimuli remain stable over time with no floor or ceiling effect. DOCS measures obtained within 94 days of injury predicted recovery of consciousness up to 1 year after injury (c-indices of 0.70 and 0.86). Positive (0.71) and negative (0.68) predictive values indicate that the DOCS predicts recovery and lack of recovery. Twenty-three of the DOCS test stimuli produce a reliable, valid, and stable measure of neurobehavioral recovery after severe BI that predicts recovery and lack of recovery of consciousness 1 year after injury.

Spontaneous periodic hypothermia

We studied a patient with spontaneous periodic hypothermia, agenesis of corpus callosum (Shapiros syndrome), polydipsia, polyuria, and hyponatremia. Endocrine evaluation of hypothalamic-pituitary unit, thyroid, adrenals and gonads was normal. Results of a water deprivation test implied primary polydipsia. Four of 10 reported cases of Shapiros syndrome had abnormalities in water metabolism. In view of the known effects of arginine vasopressin in thermoregulation, the recurrent hypothermia of this syndrome and the abnormalities of water metabolism may have a common pathogenetic mechanism.

Predictive Value of the Disorders of Consciousness Scale (DOCS)

To examine the predictive validity of measures of neurobehavioral change derived from the Disorders of Consciousness Scale (DOCS) for predicting return to consciousness 4, 8, and 12 months after severe brain injury (BI).

Establishing a prognosis for functional outcome during coma recovery

Primary objective: One of the most challenging tasks for clinicians caring for survivors of severe brain injury (BI) is establishing a prognosis, for long-term functional outcome, while the patient is unconscious. The objective of this article is to report findings regarding the prediction of functional outcomes 1-year after severe BI using data available when the patient is unconscious. Research design: Longitudinal prognostication study. Methods and procedures: Persons unconscious after severe BI who present to inpatient (IP) rehabilitation hospitals in the Midwestern US are enrolled in an ongoing study. Each subject is followed for 1-year and the final outcome interview includes ∼70 questions; 32 of these questions are from the Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique (CHART). A sample of 63 persons was abstracted from the study database to examine the predictability of 42 independent variables and 16 dichotomous outcomes. Main outcomes and results: Twelve of the 16 dichotomous outcomes were found to be significantly predictable (p < 0.05). These involve activity, participation, environment and quality of life outcomes. Ten predictors were found to be significant (p < 0.05): aetiology (Closed Head Injury vs. Other BI), presence of urinary tract infection (UTI), seizure, hypertension during IP rehabilitation, veteran benefit eligibility, health insurance, marital status at injury, whether or not recovery of consciousness occurred within 1 year, the number of days between injury and admission to acute rehabilitation and the average length of IP rehabilitation stay. Eight of the 10 variables are available early after injury or when the patient is unconscious.

Effect of Cyclandelate on Dementia

Cyclandelate, a vasodilator, was administered to 24 patients with dementia. The dementia in these patients was presumed to be due to cerebral ischemia caused by atherosclerosis in cerebral vessels after other possible causes were ruled out. In a double-blind, cross-over study, patients received 200 mg of cyclandelate four times daily for six weeks and a placebo for six weeks. Six psychological tests, which reflect various aspects of higher cortical ability, were used to evaluate the effect of cyclandelate on the dementia. Cyclandelate was found to be no more effective than placebo in improving higher cortical function in these demented patients.

Comparison and clinical applicability of auditory comprehension scores on the behavioral Neurology deficit evaluation, boston diagnostic aphasia examination, porch index of communicative ability and token test

Abstract The assessment of auditory comprehension is of major importance in the diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic evaluation of patients with aphasia. Several tests developed at institutions with differing theoretical orientations have been in common use for many years. Auditory comprehension scores on the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination, Porch Index of Communicative Ability and Token Test were obtained from a series of aphasic patients and compared with one another and with a standardized behavioral neurology examination (Behavioral Neurology Deficit Evaluation). While all of the tests were significantly correlated and effective in measuring auditory comprehension, an analysis of subtest score distributions indicates that each possesses different discriminating power depending on the individual patients level of ability.

Predicting levels of independence with expressing needs and ideas 1 year after severe brain injury

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE Severe brain injury (BI) is a catastrophic event often evolving into a complex chronic and severely disabling condition making activity participation possible only with sustained caregiving. One aspect of building sustainable caregiving is early provision of information about expected outcomes germane to patients and their caregivers. An analysis was conducted to determine whether 2 levels of independence with expressing needs and ideas 1-year after severe BI could be predicted using variables available early after injury. METHOD The authors examined a subsample (n = 79) of participants of an outcome study who received repeated neurobehavioral evaluations with the Disorders of Consciousness Scale (DOCS) and who were assessed 1 year after injury with the Functional Independence Measures (FIM). Explanatory variables included DOCS measures, patient characteristics, coexisting conditions, and interventions. The outcome is measured with the FIM Expression item. Optimal data analysis was used to construct multivariate classification tree models. RESULTS The 2nd (p = .004) DOCS visual measure and seizure (p = .004) entered the final model providing 79% accuracy in classifying more or less independence with expressing needs and ideas at 1 year. The model will correctly identify 78% of future severe BI survivors who will have more independence and 82% of persons who will have less independence. CONCLUSIONS For persons incurring severe BI, it is possible to predict, early after injury, more and less independence with expressing needs and ideas 1-year after injury. This evidence is 1 contribution to a larger body of evidence needed to enable early caregiver education about recovery expectations in terms of patient functioning relative to caregiving needs, which in turn will help build sustainable caregiving for this population.