The role of the SMART and WHIM in behavioural assessment of disorders of consciousness: clinical utility and scope for a symbiotic relationship

As the prevalence and incidence of disorders of consciousness (DoC) increase, researchers and clinicians are tasked with developing best practice assessment techniques. Neurobehavioural assessment remains the most clinically available method of measuring consciousness. Neuroimaging and other physiol...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neuropsychological rehabilitation 2018-11, Vol.28 (8), p.1254-1265
Main Authors: Morrissey, Ann-Marie, Gill-Thwaites, Helen, Wilson, Barbara, Leonard, Rachel, McLellan, Lindsay, Pundole, Amy, Shiel, Agnes
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Behavior
Best practice
Clinical assessment
Clinical research
Consciousness
Disorders of consciousness
Injuries
Long term health care
minimally conscious state
Neurobehavioral functioning
Neuroimaging
Rehabilitation
Sensory Modality Assessment and Rehabilitation Technique
Unconsciousness
vegetative state
Wessex Head Injury Matrix
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Summary:As the prevalence and incidence of disorders of consciousness (DoC) increase, researchers and clinicians are tasked with developing best practice assessment techniques. Neurobehavioural assessment remains the most clinically available method of measuring consciousness. Neuroimaging and other physiological measurements are demonstrating promise in supporting this assessment but many of these techniques require further research and are not widely available in sub-acute and long-term care settings. No study to date has explored in-depth complementary use of multiple neurobehavioural assessments in aiding beside assessment of consciousness. This paper describes and proposes complementary use of two commonly used standardised neurobehavioural assessments. The Sensory Modality Assessment and Rehabilitation Technique (SMART) and the Wessex Head Injury Matrix (WHIM) both have specific aims and play an important role in behavioural assessment across the care continuum. This paper proposes that when used together appropriately these two assessments promote best practice and strengthen behavioural assessment of consciousness by providing increased opportunities to capture awareness. Further research into use of more than one neurobehavioural tool is highlighted as an important area of inquiry for this heterogeneous population not only in clinical practice but also in research.
ISSN:0960-2011
1464-0694
DOI:10.1080/09602011.2017.1354769