Validation of the Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98

Abstract

The DRS-R-98, a 16-item clinician-rated scale with 13 severity items and 3 diagnostic items, was validated against the Cognitive Test for Delirium (CTD), Clinical Global Impression scale (CGI), and Delirium Rating Scale (DRS) among five diagnostic groups (N=68): delirium, dementia, depression, schizophrenia, and other. Mean and median DRS-R-98 scores significantly (P<0.001) distinguished delirium from each other group. DRS-R-98 total scores correlated highly with DRS, CTD, and CGI scores. Interrater reliability and internal consistency were very high. Cutoff scores for delirium are recommended based on ROC analyses (sensitivity and specificity ranges: total, 91%-100% and 85%-100%; severity, 86%-100% and 77%-93%, respectively, depending on the cutoffs or comparison groups chosen). The DRS-R-98 is a valid measure of delirium severity over a broad range of symptoms and is a useful diagnostic and assessment tool. The DRS-R-98 is ideal for longitudinal studies.

Risk Factors and Prediction of Postoperative Delirium in Elderly Hip‐Surgery Patients: Implementation and Validation of a Medical Risk Factor Model

“…Diagnosis of the syndrome was defined using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM‐IV), and Confusion Assessment Method criteria 23,24 . Daily patient assessments with the MMSE, Delirium Rating Scale, revised version (for delirium severity, range 0 (no severity) to 45 (high severity)), and the Digit Span Test (assessment of attention, range 0 (no attention) to 42 (good attention)) were used to diagnose and rate severity of DSM‐IV delirium 25,26 . Confusion Assessment Method and Delirium Rating Scale assessments were continued once a day for 5 days once delirium was diagnosed.…”

Preventing Postoperative Delirium After Major Noncardiac Thoracic Surgery—A Randomized Clinical Trial

“…The Delirium Rating Scale—Revised (DRS‐R‐98) was administered daily to measure delirium severity. The DRS‐R‐98 captures impairments in attention; short‐ and long‐term memory; visuospatial ability and orientation; perceptual and sleep–wake cycle disturbances; abnormalities of language, thought process, and content; motor agitation or retardation; and mood lability . It is a 16‐item scale, with the severity scale having 13 items (rated 0–3 each, maximum 39 points) and higher scores indicating greater delirium severity.…”

“…The Delirium Rating Scale-Revised (DRS-R-98) 31 was administered daily to measure delirium severity. The DRS-R-98 captures impairments in attention; short-and long-term memory; visuospatial ability and orientation; perceptual and sleep-wake cycle disturbances; abnormalities of language, thought process, and content; motor agitation or retardation; and mood lability.…”

Acetylcholinesterase Activity Measurement and Clinical Features of Delirium

“…Dementia was defined using the Informant Questionnaire of Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE) where a score of >3.82 represented dementia [26], and information was gathered from consultees. Delirium severity was measured using the Delirium Rating Scale-revised-98 (DRS-R-98) [27]. The delirium rating scale is rated from 0 to 39 across 13 domains, with a higher value representing more severe delirium, and incorporates reports from caregivers.…”