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.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
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 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Persistent Current Blockers of Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels: A Clinical Opportunity for Controlling Metastatic Disease
Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery HtrA Serine Proteases as Potential Therapeutic Targets in Cancer
Current Cancer Drug Targets In Silico Validation and Structure Activity Relationship Study of a Series of Pyridine-3-carbohydrazide Derivatives as Potential Anticonvulsants in Generalized and Partial Seizures
Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Pediatrics for Disability: A Comprehensive Approach to Children with Syndromic Psychomotor Delay
Current Pediatric Reviews Thymoquinone: Major Molecular Targets, Prominent Pharmacological Actions and Drug Delivery Concerns
Current Bioactive Compounds Whole Embryo Culture: An Important Tool in Developmental Toxicology Today
Current Pharmaceutical Design Blood-brain Barrier Drug Discovery for Central Nervous System Infections
Current Drug Targets - Infectious Disorders The Pathophysiological Basis of Carotid Baroreceptor Stimulation for the Treatment of Resistant Hypertension
Current Vascular Pharmacology Maternal Exposure to Quetiapine: Effects on Structural Changes in Developing Brain and its Lasting Impact on Neurobehavioral Impairments in Rat Offspring
Current Psychopharmacology Mevalonate Cascade and Neurodevelopmental and Neurodegenerative Diseases: Future Targets for Therapeutic Application
Current Molecular Pharmacology Neuroimaging of Gut Nutrient Perception
Current Pharmaceutical Design Preparation, Characterization and in vivo Evaluation of Simple Monolithic Ethylcellulose-coated Pellets Containing Topiramate with Biphasic Release Characteristics
Current Drug Delivery Application of Contemporary Neuroproteomic Techniques in Unravelling Neurological Disorders
Current Protein & Peptide Science Cerebral Palsy: Classification, Etiology and Evolution of Spine Deformity in Children and Adolescents
Current Pediatric Reviews Mining the Genome for Susceptibility to Complex Neurological Disorders
Current Molecular Medicine Gap Junctions as Therapeutic Targets in Brain Injury Following Hypoxia- Ischemia
Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery (Discontinued) Central and Peripheral Pain Generators in Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain: Patient Centered Assessment and Treatment
Current Rheumatology Reviews High Throughput Screening for Bioactive Components from Traditional Chinese Medicine
Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathies in Children. Part I: Conventional MR Imaging Findings
Current Medical Imaging Adaptive Behavior in Williams-Beuren Syndrome, Down Syndrome, and Autism Spectrum Disorder
Current Psychiatry Reviews