Connected and disconnected consciousness after long ICU stays
Official title: Episodes of (Dis)Connected Consciousness Among Patients Who Survived a Critical Illness
Run by University of Liege · NCT07048951 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will see how often adult ICU survivors who were in a coma report near-death or out-of-body experiences and what factors are linked to those episodes.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 200 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Liege Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Liège, Liège) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | April 1, 2025 |
| Main results expected | January 2027 |
| Study ends | April 2027 |
| Registry record updated | July 3, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07048951 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults who speak French, survived at least seven days in an intensive care unit, and experienced at least one pharmacological or non-pharmacological coma episode are the ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with chronic disorders of consciousness, ongoing confusion or delirium, significant deafness, blindness, aphasia, or those who refuse participation are unlikely to benefit from this observational project.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is a single-center observational study at CHU de Liège enrolling adults who survived at least seven days in the ICU and experienced at least one pharmacological or non-pharmacological loss of consciousness. Participants complete the Near-Death Experience Content (NDE-C) scale, a threat perception measure, and an interview about memories of their ICU stay. Investigators will describe the incidence of connected and disconnected consciousness episodes, analyze clinical risk factors, and perform a six-month follow-up to explore longer-term psychological outcomes. Data collection is descriptive and hypothesis-generating rather than interventional.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help clinicians recognize and address psychological distress and long-term mental-health needs in ICU survivors who report near-death or out-of-body experiences.
How similar studies have gone: Previous observational reports have described near-death and out-of-body experiences after cardiac arrest and critical illness, but systematic data specifically after prolonged ICU stays remain limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Adult patients who survived a ≥7 days stay in the intensive care unit * Experienced a pharmacological or non-pharmacological episode of loss of consciousness * French speaking Exclusion Criteria: * Refusal * Chronic disorder of consciousness * Confusion or delirium * Deafness * Blindness * Aphasia
Where it's running
-
CHU of Liège
Liège, Liège, Belgium Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Charlotte Martial, PhD
- Email: cmartial@uliege.be
- Phone: +3243233612
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.