NCT00163878

Is Sensory Stimulation Effective in Reducing Time Spent in a Coma or Vegetative State

A Randomised Control Trial to Determine the Effectiveness of Sensory Stimulation Program in Reducing the Length of Time Spent by Severely Brain Injured Patients in a Vegetative State in the Acute Hospital Environment

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: Phase 4
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: —
• Sponsor: Bayside Health · Other Government
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

A randomised control trial of patients who have a severe brain injury to determine if patients who receive a standardised sensory stimulation program emerge earlier from a vegetative state. The experimental group would receive, in addition to their normal occuaptional therapy, sensory stimulation which would involve the daily application of stimulation to all five senses using the Sensory Modalities Assessment and Rehabilitation Technique (SMART).

Detailed description

A randomised control trial of patients who have a severe brain injury to determine if patients who receive a standardised sensory stimulation program emerge earlier from a vegetative state. The experimental group would receive, in addition to their normal occupational therapy, sensory stimulation which would involve the daily application of stimulation to all five senses using the Sensory Modalities Assessment and Rehabilitation Technique (SMART). The SMART is both an assessment and treatment too. Patients in both groups will have baseline assessments conducted using the SMART, with further assessments conducted every ten days for thrity days. The SMART is designed to provide quantitative data in the assessment of the patients cognitive function and potential awareness. It is a five point hierarchical scale from level 1 ( no response) to level 5 (discriminating).

Conditions

• Traumatic Brain Injury

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	Sensory Stimulation
DEVICE	Sesnory Modality Assessment and Rehabilitation Technique

Timeline

• Start date: 2004-11-01
• Completion: 2006-12-01
• First posted: 2005-09-14
• Last updated: 2006-10-04

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: Australia