Brief assessment of delirium subtypes: Psychometric evaluation of the Delirium Motor Subtype Scale (DMSS)-4 in the intensive care setting

Soenke Boettger, David Garcia Nuñez, Rafael Meyer, Andre Richter, Maria Schubert, David Meagher, Josef Jenewein

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective: The management of and prognosis for delirium are affected by its subtype: hypoactive, hyperactive, mixed, and none. The DMSS-4, an abbreviated version of the Delirium Motor Symptom Scale, is a brief instrument for the assessment of delirium subtypes. However, it has not yet been evaluated in an intensive care setting. Method: We performed a prospective/descriptive cohort study in order to determine the internal consistency, reliability, and validity of the relevant items of the DMSS-4 versus the Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98 (DRS-R-98) and the original DMSS in a surgical intensive care setting. Results: A total of 289 elderly, predominantly male patients were screened for delirium, and 122 were included in our sample. The internal consistency of the DMSS-4 items was excellent (Cronbach's α = 0.92), and between the DMSS-4 and DRS-R-98 the overall concurrent validity was substantial (Cramer's V = 0.67). Within individual motor subtypes, concurrent validity remained at least substantial (Cohen's κ = 0.65-0.81) and sensitivity high (69.8 to 82.2%), in contrast to those of the no-motor subtype, with less validity and sensitivity (κ = 0.28, 22%). Similarly, total concurrent validity between the DMSS-4 and the original DMSS reached perfection (Cramer's V = 0.83), as did agreement between the subtypes (κ = 0.83-0.92), while sensitivity remained high (88.2-100%). Only in those with delirium with no-motor subtype was agreement moderate (κ = 0.56) and sensitivity lower (67%). Specificity was high across all subtypes (91.2-99.1%). The DMSS-4 yielded very sensitive ratings, particularly for hypoactive and hyperactive motor symptoms, and interrater agreement was excellent (Fleiss's κ = 0.83). Significance of Results: We found the DMSS-4 to be a most reliable and valid brief assessment of delirium in characterizing the subtypes of delirium in an intensive care setting, with increased sensitivity to hypoactive and hyperactive motor alterations.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)535-543
Number of pages9
JournalPalliative and Supportive Care
Volume15
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2017

Keywords

  • Classification
  • Delirium
  • Delirium Motor Symptom Scale (DMSS)
  • Delirium rating scale-revised-98 (DRS-R-98)
  • Motor subtypes

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