Functioning and disability in vegetative and minimally conscious states

The research project was funded by the Ministry of Health (call 2009-2010), through the National Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CCM) and was coordinated by the IRCCS Carlo Besta Neurological Institute Foundation in Milan.

The aim of the project was to create a network between the different national realities that deal with these patients in order to be able to achieve the central objective: to evaluate the functioning and disability of people with these diagnoses according to the broadest possible bio-psycho-social perspective. A perspective therefore that also takes into account the environment that is created around people in a Vegetative State and a State of Minimal Consciousness. For this reason, the CCM National Project also assessed the needs, emotional reactions, psychosocial aspects of caregivers and families of patients with a disorder of consciousness and the work stress of social and health workers in the sector.

78 Italian centers, 39 associations and federations of family members who take care of people in SV and SMC, the Italian Federation of General Practitioners (FIMMG) and the Italian Association of Women Doctors (AIDM) participated in the project.

The University Centre for Bioethics was responsible for the in-depth study of anthropological and ethical topics and the training of social and health workers and family members. 

IRCSS Foundation Neurological Institute "C.Besta"

Explora Center