Table 1.

Selected examples of delirium screening tools

Instrument	Synopsis	Sensitivity	Specificity	Time
Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) [38]	A bedside cognitive test is used to determine (1) altered mental status or fluctuating course, (2) inattention, (3) disorganized thinking, and (4) altered level of consciousness using clinical impression	86%	93%	5–10 min
Brief Confusion Assessment Method (bCAM) [37]	Uses the CAM algorithm but uses objective testing to evaluate inattention and disorganized thinking	84%	96%	< 2 min
4AT [39]	Evaluates alertness, orientation, attention, and fluctuation	88%	88%	< 2 min
Delirium Triage Screen (DTS) [37]	Evaluates inattention using object testing and level of consciousness using DTS followed by more specific test to confirm	98%	55%	< 30 sec
Month of the year backwards—12 months (MOTYB-12) [40•]	Asks the patient to recite the months of the year backwards from December to July	84%	71%	< 1 min
Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale [41]	A structured evaluation of level of consciousness based on your observation of the patient during routine clinical evaluation	82%	85%	< 10 sec
Single Question in Delirium (SQiD)	“'Do you think [name of patient] has been more confused lately?”	80%	71%	< 30 sec