Assessment and Management of Pain in Patients With Disorders of Consciousness. Issue 11 (12th November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schnakers, Caroline; Zasler, Nathan
• Is Part Of: PM&R. Volume 7:Issue 11(2015)Supplement
• Page Start: S270
• Page End: S277
• Publication Date: 2015-11-12
• Subjects: Medical rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Physical therapy -- Periodicals; Physical Therapy Modalities -- Periodicals; 615.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pmrj.2015.09.016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1934-1482

Abstract

Abstract: Pain is a first‐person experience that must be reported, verbally or nonverbally, to be correctly assessed. How, then, is pain perception determined in persons who are noncommunicative? This determination is a major clinical challenge because patients with disorders of consciousness are unable to communicate their feelings and possible pain experiences. This review will describe the current knowledge of evaluating pain perception in a minimally conscious state compared with an unconscious state (also known as vegetative state/unresponsive wakefulness syndrome) and how to approach the management of pain in these 2 populations.