The Delirium Rating Scale is a tool used to assess delirium that assigns numbers to a person’s cognitive state and helps doctors decide what kind of medical intervention to employ. The cost of the DRS varies depending on the version that is used. The standard version of the scale costs $5 per copy, while the abbreviated version costs $2 per copy (Hshieh et al., 2018). The Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) is a reliable and valid delirium rating scale that clinicians can use to identify patients with delirium quickly. The CAM comprises four objective criteria: an altered level of consciousness, disorganized thinking, acute onset, and fluctuating course (Hshieh et al., 2018). A patient must meet all four criteria to be diagnosed with delirium (Hshieh et al., 2018). The Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (MDAS) is another evidence-based rating scale for delirium.
The MDAS consists of five items: orientation, recent memory, remote memory, attention, and language. Each item is rated on a three-point scale, with a total score ranging from 0 to 15. A score of 7 or higher indicates the presence of delirium (Hshieh et al., 2018). The MDAS has good inter-rater reliability and convergent validity with other delirium rating scales. The CAM and MDAS delirium rating scales can be found on the websites of several mental health organizations, including the National Institute of Mental Health and the American Psychiatric Association (Gross et al., 2018).
These scales are designed to help clinicians assess the severity of delirium symptoms in adults and can be used to track a person’s progress over time (Gross et al., 2018). They can also be found by searching for them on government websites, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the National Institutes of Health. Both scales are widely used in clinical practice and are available for free on the internet.
The CAM and MDAS are two of the most popular delirium rating scales. Both scales have strengths and weaknesses, but I believe the CAM scale is more accurate and user-friendly. The CAM scale is specifically designed to assess delirium, while the MDAS scale includes several items that are not directly related to delirium. In addition, the CAM scale is easier to administer, as it only requires a few minutes to complete. For these reasons, I would recommend the CAM scale to my colleagues.
References
Hshieh, T. T., Fong, T. G., Schmitt, E. M., Marcantonio, E. R., D’Aquila, M. L., Gallagher, J., Xu, G., Guo, Y. R., Abrantes, T. F., Bertrand, S. E., Jones, R. N., Inouye, S. K., & for the BASIL Study Group. (2019). The better assessment of illness study for delirium severity: Study design, procedures, and cohort description. Gerontology, 65(1), 20–29. Web.
Gross, A. L., Tommet, D., D’Aquila, M., Schmitt, E., Marcantonio, E. R., Helfand, B., Inouye, S. K., & Jones, R. N. (2018). Harmonization of delirium severity instruments: A comparison of the DRS-R-98, MDAS, and CAM-S using item response theory. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 18(1), 92. Web.