Article

Over the last decade, research on patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC)
has suggested that their prognosis for functional recovery early after injury is
surprisingly positive, particularly for those with traumatic etiologies; that
meaningful recovery proceeds for longer intervals than previously appreciated ;
and that such individuals are often medically complex and challenging to manage.
However, access to intensive specialty rehabilitation is limited for most
individuals with DOC in the United States. The evolving understanding of DOC
calls for a reconsideration of appropriate models of care.
This collection of
articles provides insight into the functional recovery of individuals with DOC,
new tools for assessing prognosis, and the patterns of comorbidity that
complicate the recovery process. In addition, models of care from the United
States and Europe that attempt to address the needs of patients as well as their
caregivers are presented.
CI - Copyright (c) 2013 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS