Many delirium scales are available. The choice of instrument depends on a number of factors, including time for completion, amount of training required, experience of the rater, the purpose of the scale (diagnosis, screening, severity measurement), and the clinical setting.

The scales listed below are the best in terms of psychometric properties and wide validation in multiple clinical settings/patient groups (see EBM main text for details regarding psychometric properties).

For non-psychiatric clinicians: Screening and diagnosis

• Confusion Assessment Method (CAM): http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/481726
• For the ICU:  CAM-ICU: http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/icudelirium/docs/CAM_ICU_worksheet.pdf

For psychiatric clinicians:  Severity rating and diagnosis

• Delirium Rating Scale-98 (DRS-98) http://neuro.psychiatryonline.org/data/Journals/NP/3906/229.pdf
• Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (MDAS) http://www.delirant.info/DreamHC/Download/MDAS.pdf

For nurses:  Screening

• Neelon and Champagne Confusion Scale (NEECHAM)

References

Adamis D, Sharma N, Whelan PJ, Macdonald AJ. Delirium scales: A review of current evidence. Aging and Mental Health 2010;14(5):543-55

Dasgupta M, Dumbrell AC. Preoperative risk assessment for delirium after noncardiac surgery: a systematic review. Journal of the American Geriatric Society 2006;54(10):1578-89

Inouye SK, Zhang Y, Jones RN, Kiely DK, Yang F, Marcantonio ER. Risk factors for delirium at discharge: development and validation of a predictive model. Archives of Internal Medicine 2007;167(13):1406-13

Van Rompaey B, Elseviers MM, Schuurmans MJ, Shortridge-Baggett LM, Truijen S, Bossaert L. Risk factors for delirium in intensive care patients: a prospective cohort study. Critical Care 2009;13(3):R77