About deliriumtools.com
A curated, evidence-linked directory of delirium assessment tools, built to help clinicians, educators and researchers find and compare instruments quickly and reliably.
Alasdair MacLullich is a clinician and researcher whose work focuses on the detection, mechanisms and outcomes of delirium. He co-developed and is a co-author of the 4AT, a rapid delirium screening tool used internationally. His research spans bedside assessment, the relationship between delirium and dementia, and the biology of acute cognitive decline. He also contributes clinically in acute geriatric medicine.
deliriumtools.com brings his working knowledge of the assessment-tool landscape into a single, searchable resource, so that colleagues do not have to reassemble it from scattered papers and websites.
Editorial principles
- Check, don’t assume. Citation metadata was checked against PubMed or the publisher DOI record. During compilation this corrected several errors in the source data, including mismatched publication records.
- No fabricated references. Where a single canonical validation study could not be confirmed, the tool is flagged and links to a PubMed search rather than a specific, unverified citation.
- Label the evidence. Accuracy figures state whether they are pooled meta-analytic estimates or single-study results, so readers can judge their weight.
- Link to official sources where available. Copyrighted instruments are not rehosted here; entries link to an official source, original publication or clearly labelled search.
- Open by default. This site’s own content is licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Independence & disclosures
Because trustworthy comparison depends on it, the potential conflicts of interest here are stated plainly.
Conflict of interest
The curator, Professor MacLullich, is a co-author of several instruments listed in this directory — the 4AT, 4-DSD, Observational Scale of Level of Arousal (OSLA), DelApp and Edinburgh Delirium Test Box. He is also a co-author of the Tieges 2021 4AT meta-analysis and the Penfold 2024 review that supplies the real-world section. These are material relationships for a site that compares tools.
To manage it, the site holds to these rules:
- No default tool. The directory does not rank or pre-select an instrument; the curator’s own tools appear on the same terms as every other, with the same evidence and the same limitations shown.
- Sources and authorship disclosed. Comparison figures come from cited systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Professor MacLullich’s authorship of Tieges 2021 and Penfold 2024 is disclosed wherever those findings are used. No review or instrument is treated as an endorsement.
- Limitations stated. The 4AT’s limitations (a screen, not a diagnostic algorithm; trades detail for speed) are stated alongside its strengths.
- Balanced framing. The Compare page presents strengths and considerations for each tool and defers final choice to local guidelines and available training.
Funding & governance
The website receives no commercial sponsorship. It is maintained by the curator; author affiliations are provided for identification. This is not an official University of Edinburgh or NHS Lothian publication. Links and citations are reviewed at least twice yearly.
Corrections & feedback
Errors matter more than appearances. If you spot a wrong citation, a mis-described tool, or a missing instrument, use the Contribute & corrections page — every submission is checked against PubMed, and accepted changes are logged.
Related sites & contact
the4AT.com
The official home of the 4AT: downloads, translations, the user guide, and delirium-care information.
Visit the4AT.comFollow & get in touch
Updates, discussion and corrections relating to delirium detection and research.
How to cite this resource
MacLullich AMJ. deliriumtools.com: a directory of delirium assessment tools. 2026. Available at: https://www.deliriumtools.com (CC BY 4.0).