Olfactory Stimulation and the Diagnosis of Patients With Disorders of Consciousness: A Double-Blind, Randomized Clinical Trial.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The aim of this study was to determine whether behavioral responses elicited by olfactory stimulation are a predictor of conscious behavioral response and prognosis of patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC).

Methods

Twenty-three DOC patients (8 unresponsive wakefulness syndrome [UWS]; 15 minimally conscious state [MCS]) were recruited for this study in which 1-Octen-3-ol (familiar neutral odor) and pyridine were used to test odor behavioral responses, and water was used as an odorless stimulus. One rater presented the three odors in front of each patient's nose randomly, and another one videotaped all behavioral responses (e.g., pouting, wrinkling nose, slightly shaking head, frowning, etc.). Two independent raters, blind to the stimuli and the patient's d

SUBMITTER: Wang J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8891647 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature