Abstract
The last years have witnessed a significant increase in our understanding of brain functions in survivors of severe brain injuries with disorders of consciousness (DOC). Despite there is currently no effective standardized treatment for DOC patients, in the past decade many potential pharmacological as well as non-pharmacological therapies have been proposed. A promising and increasingly growing field of non-pharmacological therapeutic trials has been supported by the application of electrophysiological techniques. This article reviews the most relevant studies in the literature in order to provide the reader with a clear picture of the current available neurophysiological instruments that could be used to treat DOC patients. We will hereinafter briefly discuss the basic principles of deep brain stimulation (DBS), repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), spinal cord stimulation (SCS) and peripheral nerve stimulation (MNS) that are the main techniques now used by researchers as a treatment and we will explain the rationale of these therapies. Then, we will outline the more relevant studies regarding their application in DOC patients. Finally, due to the fact that only a moderate amount of individual or clinically-dependent approaches are available, we conclude that more standardized studies are necessary to address the role of electrophysiological treatment strategies in DOC as well as to further elucidate their therapeutic effects and define optimal stimulation parameters. Undoubtedly, at present the multidimensional approach is the most interesting.
Keywords: Disorders of consciousness, arousal, awareness, consciousness, vegetative state, minimally conscious state, locked-in syndrome, coma, deep brain stimulation, spinal cord stimulation, transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation, median nerve stimulation, DBS, rTMS, SCS, TENS, DOC, PVS, MCS, LIS.
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title:Disorders of Consciousness and Electrophysiological Treatment Strategies: A Review of the Literature and New Perspectives
Volume: 20 Issue: 26
Author(s): Andrea Guerra, Emanuele Maria Costantini, Sara Maatta, David Ponzo and Florinda Ferreri
Affiliation:
Keywords: Disorders of consciousness, arousal, awareness, consciousness, vegetative state, minimally conscious state, locked-in syndrome, coma, deep brain stimulation, spinal cord stimulation, transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation, median nerve stimulation, DBS, rTMS, SCS, TENS, DOC, PVS, MCS, LIS.
Abstract: The last years have witnessed a significant increase in our understanding of brain functions in survivors of severe brain injuries with disorders of consciousness (DOC). Despite there is currently no effective standardized treatment for DOC patients, in the past decade many potential pharmacological as well as non-pharmacological therapies have been proposed. A promising and increasingly growing field of non-pharmacological therapeutic trials has been supported by the application of electrophysiological techniques. This article reviews the most relevant studies in the literature in order to provide the reader with a clear picture of the current available neurophysiological instruments that could be used to treat DOC patients. We will hereinafter briefly discuss the basic principles of deep brain stimulation (DBS), repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), spinal cord stimulation (SCS) and peripheral nerve stimulation (MNS) that are the main techniques now used by researchers as a treatment and we will explain the rationale of these therapies. Then, we will outline the more relevant studies regarding their application in DOC patients. Finally, due to the fact that only a moderate amount of individual or clinically-dependent approaches are available, we conclude that more standardized studies are necessary to address the role of electrophysiological treatment strategies in DOC as well as to further elucidate their therapeutic effects and define optimal stimulation parameters. Undoubtedly, at present the multidimensional approach is the most interesting.
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Guerra Andrea, Costantini Maria Emanuele, Maatta Sara, Ponzo David and Ferreri Florinda, Disorders of Consciousness and Electrophysiological Treatment Strategies: A Review of the Literature and New Perspectives, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2014; 20 (26) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/13816128113196660648
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/13816128113196660648 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
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