Paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity during neurorehabilitation for severe acquired brain injury: current Scandinavian practice and Delphi consensus recommendations.

Objectives: To document current practice and develop consensus recommendations for the assessment and treatment of paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity (PSH) during rehabilitation after severe acquired brain injury.

Design: Delphi consensus process with three rounds, based on the Guidance on Conducting and REporting DElphi Studies (CREDES) guidelines, led by three convenors (the authors) with an expert panel. Round 1 was exploratory, with consensus defined before round 2 as agreement of at least 75% of the panel.

Setting: A working group within the Nordic Network for Neurorehabilitation.

Panel Participants: Twenty specialist physicians, from Sweden (9 participants), Norway (7) and Denmark (4), all working clinically with patients with severe acquired brain injury and with current involvement in clinical decisions regarding PSH.

Results: Consensus was reached for 21 statements on terminology, assessment and principles for pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment, including some guidance on specific drugs. From these, an algorithm to support clinical decisions at all stages of inpatient rehabilitation was created.

Conclusions: Considerable consensus exists in the Nordic countries regarding principles for PSH assessment and treatment. An interdisciplinary approach is needed. Improved documentation and collation of data on treatment given during routine clinical practice are needed as a basis for improving care until sufficiently robust research exists to guide treatment choices.