Seminars in respiratory and critical care medicineMay 30, 2013

How to Start and Keep Up Delirium Checks in Intensive Care Units

Circadian Biology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Mar 31, 2026

Abstract

Delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU) is associated with increased length of stay and higher mortality rates.

Delirium can lead to prolonged ICU and hospital stays, extended mechanical ventilation, and increased mortality.
Long-term cognitive impairment is linked to delirium experienced during ICU stays.
The 2013 clinical practice guidelines recommend routine monitoring for delirium using validated tools.
The Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU (CAM-ICU) and the Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC) are highlighted as the most reliable assessment tools.
Effective detection of delirium is crucial for managing ICU patients and mitigating negative outcomes.

Simplified

Delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU) is associated with many negative outcomes, including increased length of stay in both the ICU and the hospital, increased duration of mechanical ventilation, increased mortality, worse long-term cognitive impairment, and increased costs. The 2013 American College of Critical Care Medicine (ACCM)/Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) clinical practice guidelines for pain, agitation, and delirium (PAD), based on available evidence, strongly recommend that critically ill patients be routinely monitored for delirium in the ICU using a validated tool. After conducting a thorough psychometric review of available delirium assessment tools, the 2013 PAD guideline group concluded that the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU (CAM-ICU) and the Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC) are the ICU delirium screening tools with the strongest validity and reliability. This article discusses the importance and feasibility of delirium screening in the ICU and compares the most commonly used critical care delirium screening instruments. Strategies needed to implement and sustain delirium screening efforts in different critically ill populations are introduced and discussed. Accurate detection is the first step in managing ICU patients who develop delirium in an attempt to reduce the negative sequelae of delirium in this population.

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How to Start and Keep Up Delirium Checks in Intensive Care Units

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