Citation

Angelino E, Miglioretti M, Zotti AM. Brain Inj. 2002; 16(3): 269-275.

Affiliation

Psychology Unit, Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, IRCCS, Scientific Institute of Veruno, Via per Revislate 13, 28010 Veruno, Italy. eangelino@fsm.it

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/02699050110103968

PMID

11874618

Abstract

The aim of this single case study was to evaluate the applicability of a graphic and statistical time-series analyses in the observation of an agitation disturbance in a 16-year-old patient who had sustained a severe traumatic brain injury. The agitation was measured using the Agitated Behaviour Scale. The experimental model was of the A-B type: phase A corresponded to the period of vegetative state, and phase B to the period following the reawakening from coma. The data were submitted to visual and statistical analysis by the split-middle trend line method, function of autocorrelation, and C statistic. The results show the different nature and frequency of the agitated behaviour during the vegetative state and after reawakening from coma. The application of a statistical analysis to establish whether the behavioural disturbance is random or a response to the environment allows the adoption of specific and potentially more efficacious treatments.

Language: en