A method and an apparatus for monitoring a sedated patient, the method comprising the steps of providing a skin conductance signal measured at an area of the patients skin, establishing the existence of at least one fluctuation peak in the skin conductance signal through a time interval, providing a width value of said fluctuation peak in the skin conductance signal through said time interval, and comparing the width value with a reference value. If said width value is larger than the reference value, an output signal is provided which indicates the state of awakening in the patient. If the width value is less than the reference value, an output signal is provided which indicates the state of pain in the patient.
