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DRS-R-98: Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98

2001

Revised 16-item scale (13 severity, 3 diagnostic items) widely used to measure delirium severity over a broad symptom range in research.

Classification

Classification

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Tool and original sources

View a copy of the DRS-R-98 hosted by the Dementia Centre for Research Collaboration. The scale is not reproduced here.

Original and selected diagnostic-accuracy papers

  • Original paperTrzepacz PT, Mittal D, Torres R, Kanary K, Norton J, Jimerson N. Validation of the Delirium Rating Scale-revised-98: comparison with the delirium rating scale and the cognitive test for delirium. The Journal of neuropsychiatry and clinical neurosciences. 2001;13(2):229-42. doi: 10.1176/jnp.13.2.229. PMID: 11449030.

    This paper reports the original validation of DRS-R-98. It reported sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 95% against a DSM-IV clinical assessment.

  • Selected diagnostic-accuracy studyKato M, Kishi Y, Okuyama T, Trzepacz PT, Hosaka T. Japanese version of the Delirium Rating Scale, Revised-98 (DRS-R98-J): reliability and validity. Psychosomatics. 2010;51(5):425-31. doi: 10.1176/appi.psy.51.5.425. PMID: 20833942.

    This diagnostic-accuracy study evaluated DRS-R-98 in japanese medically ill inpatient consultation population against independent psychiatric diagnosis separating delirium from dementia and other non-delirium states. It reported sensitivity of 98% and specificity of 94% in 81 psychiatric-consultation medical/surgical inpatients; 48 delirium and 33 non-delirium.

Multiple DTA studies identifiedCore instrument family

At a glance

Purpose
Measurement of delirium severity
Population
Adult
Setting
General / acute hospital
Time
variable
Items
16
Score or threshold
Cut-offs by comparison group

Format: The instrument records 16 scored items or observations. This site classifies it under measurement of delirium severity and detailed phenomenological and/or neuropsychological assessment. It is intended for adult use in General / acute hospital. The stated administration time is variable. The published result is recorded using Cut-offs by comparison group.

  • Strengths: Broad symptom coverage; ideal for longitudinal severity
  • Limitations: Requires clinician training/time

Evidence

Evidence maturityMultiple DTA studies identified

Reported sensitivity and specificity

Headline metric source

Original/source study · 2001 — pmid:11449030

Denominator
Reported source unit: 68 (analysis unit not fully reconciled)
Reference standard
Referring-service DSM-IV clinical diagnosis
92%
Sensitivity
95%
Specificity

Earliest DTA evaluation identified in the current audit; see the linked source and methodological caveats.

More evidence and citation details
Full name
Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98
Also known as
DRS-R-98, Delirium Rating Scale Revised 98, DRS-R98
Evidence summary
multi-study
Diagnostic-accuracy studies
10
Reference standard
Clinical diagnosis (5 groups)
Reliability
High inter-rater; high internal consistency
Citation
Trzepacz PT, Mittal D, Torres R, Kanary K, Norton J, Jimerson N Validation of the Delirium Rating Scale-revised-98: comparison with the delirium rating scale and the cognitive test for delirium The Journal of neuropsychiatry and clinical neurosciences. 2001;13(2):229-42. PMID 11449030
Copyright and reuse
Version
DRS-R-98 form carrying © Trzepacz 1998 and a reproduced-with-permission notice
Information checked
2026-07-19

Instrument-specific terms apply. See the access and copyright policy or send a correction.

Sources checked 2026-07-29. How profiles are prepared.