A patient who only responds to painful stimuli is characterized as?

When a patient only responds to painful stimuli, this indicates a level of consciousness that falls between a fully alert state and a comatose state. The term used to describe this condition is semicomatose. This term suggests that the patient is not fully aware of their surroundings and is unable to respond to verbal stimuli, but they do exhibit some level of responsiveness, specifically to pain.

In contrast, being alert refers to a fully conscious state where the patient is aware and able to respond appropriately to stimuli. Comatose patients do not respond to any stimuli, including painful stimuli, indicating a deeper loss of consciousness. Unresponsive can be a more general term, applicable to various levels of unresponsiveness, but it lacks the specific meaning that semicomatose conveys regarding partial responsiveness.

Therefore, semicomatose is the most accurate choice in characterizing a patient who reacts only to painful stimuli, as it captures the nuances of the patient's level of awareness and responsiveness.