Table 2.

Validated Delirium Screening Instruments

Tool	Sensitivity (%)	Specificity (%)	Criteria
Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) [18]	94–100	90–95	9 criteria from DSM-III-R: acute onset and fluctuating course, inattention, disorganized thinking, altered level of consciousness, disorientation, memory impairment, perceptual disturbances, increased or decreased psychomotor activity, sleep-wake cycle disturbance
Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU) [20]	95–100	89–93	4 items: acute onset or fluctuating course, inattention, disorganized thinking, altered level of consciousness,
Delirium Symptom Interview (DSI) [19]	90	80	7 criteria from DSM-III: disorientation, consciousness, sleep/wake cycle, perceptual disturbance, speech, psychomotor activity, fluctuating behavior
Nursing Delirium Screening Scale (NuDESC) [21]	85.7	86.8	5 items: disorientation, behavior, communication, hallucinations, psychomotor retardation
Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC) [22]	99	64	8 items: altered level of consciousness, inattention, disorientation, psychosis, psychomotor agitation/retardation, inappropriate speech/mood, sleep/wake cycle, symptom fluctuation
NEECHAM Confusion Scale [23]	95	78	9 items in the following 3 domains: Processing, Behavior, Physiologic Control

Abbreviations: DSM, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders