TY - JOUR
T1 - Practical assessment of delirium in palliative care
AU - Leonard, Maeve M.
AU - Nekolaichuk, Cheryl
AU - Meagher, David J.
AU - Barnes, Christopher
AU - Gaudreau, Jean David
AU - Watanabe, Sharon
AU - Agar, Meera
AU - Bush, Shirley H.
AU - Lawlor, Peter G.
N1 - Copyright © 2014 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
PY - 2014/8
Y1 - 2014/8
N2 - Context Delirium is a common, distressing neuropsychiatric complication for patients in palliative care settings, where the need to minimize burden yet accurately assess delirium is hugely challenging. Objectives This review focused on the optimal clinical and research application of delirium assessment tools and methods in palliative care settings. Methods In addition to multidisciplinary input from delirium researchers and other relevant stakeholders at an international meeting, we searched PubMed (1990-2012) and relevant reference lists to identify delirium assessment tools used either exclusively or partly in the context of palliative care. Results Of the 26 delirium scales identified, we selected six for in-depth review: three screening tools, two severity measures, and one research tool for neuropsychological assessment of delirium. These tools differed regarding intended use, ease of use, training requirements, psychometric properties, and validation in or suitability for palliative care populations. The Nursing Delirium Screening Scale, Single Question in Delirium, or Confusion Assessment Method, ideally with a brief attention test, can effectively screen for delirium. Favoring inclusivity, use of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV criteria gives the best results for delirium diagnosis. The Revised Delirium Rating Scale and the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale are the best available options for monitoring severity, and the Cognitive Test for Delirium provides detailed neuropsychological assessment for research purposes. Conclusion Given the unique characteristics of patients in palliative care settings, further contextually sensitive studies of delirium assessment are required in this population.
AB - Context Delirium is a common, distressing neuropsychiatric complication for patients in palliative care settings, where the need to minimize burden yet accurately assess delirium is hugely challenging. Objectives This review focused on the optimal clinical and research application of delirium assessment tools and methods in palliative care settings. Methods In addition to multidisciplinary input from delirium researchers and other relevant stakeholders at an international meeting, we searched PubMed (1990-2012) and relevant reference lists to identify delirium assessment tools used either exclusively or partly in the context of palliative care. Results Of the 26 delirium scales identified, we selected six for in-depth review: three screening tools, two severity measures, and one research tool for neuropsychological assessment of delirium. These tools differed regarding intended use, ease of use, training requirements, psychometric properties, and validation in or suitability for palliative care populations. The Nursing Delirium Screening Scale, Single Question in Delirium, or Confusion Assessment Method, ideally with a brief attention test, can effectively screen for delirium. Favoring inclusivity, use of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV criteria gives the best results for delirium diagnosis. The Revised Delirium Rating Scale and the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale are the best available options for monitoring severity, and the Cognitive Test for Delirium provides detailed neuropsychological assessment for research purposes. Conclusion Given the unique characteristics of patients in palliative care settings, further contextually sensitive studies of delirium assessment are required in this population.
KW - Delirium
KW - assessment
KW - diagnosis
KW - palliative care
KW - rating scales
KW - screening
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84905912206&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2013.10.024
DO - 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2013.10.024
M3 - Article
C2 - 24766745
AN - SCOPUS:84905912206
SN - 0885-3924
VL - 48
SP - 176
EP - 190
JO - Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
JF - Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
IS - 2
ER -