BRAIN INJURY, 2002, VOL. 16, NO. 7, 555—569
Review of subject
The locked-in syndrome: a syndrome looking for a therapy
JOSÉ LEÓN-CARRIÓN1, PHILIPPE VAN EECKHOUT2 and MARÍA DEL ROSARIO DOMÍNGUEZ-MORALES3;
1 Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Seville, Spain
2 Federation de Neurologie, La Pitie-Salpetriere, Paris, France
3 Center for Brain Injury Rehabilitation, C.RE.CER., Seville, Spain
(Received 24 August 2001; accepted 4 December 2001)
A review of the scientific literature on locked-in syndrome (LIS) is offered. The clinical features, diagnosis and prognosis of LIS are reviewed, and methods regarding the differential diagnosis of LIS with severe disorders of consciousness are considered. Effective treatment, physiotherapy, and methods of communication are reviewed. Although progress in the field of communication for patients with LIS is promising, it is concluded that there are new possibilities to be pursued and that a more positive outlook in the area of professional care of the patients, as well as more extensive imaginative research will facilitate new and positive strategies for this syndrome.


Corresponcence to: José León-Carrión, PhD, Department of Experimental Psychology, Umiversity of Seville, Seville, Spain. e-mail: LeonCarrion@us.es

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