DRS: Delirium Rating Scale
1988The original clinician-rated symptom scale that quantifies multiple parameters of delirium; forerunner of the DRS-R-98.
Classification
A tool may belong to more than one category. Select a linked category to see other relevant profiles.
Tool and original sources
This record describes a method rather than a downloadable bedside form. The main source is linked below.
Original and selected diagnostic-accuracy papers
- Original paperTrzepacz PT, Baker RW, Greenhouse J. A symptom rating scale for delirium. Psychiatry research. 1988;23(1):89-97. doi: 10.1016/0165-1781(88)90037-6. PMID: 3363018.
This is the original published source for DRS. It is the main source for the method, its intended use and the evidence available at publication.
- Selected diagnostic-accuracy studyJanssen NJ, Tan EY, Staal M, Janssen EP, Leroy PL, Lousberg R, et al. On the utility of diagnostic instruments for pediatric delirium in critical illness: an evaluation of the Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium Scale, the Delirium Rating Scale 88, and the Delirium Rating Scale-Revised R-98. Intensive care medicine. 2011;37(8):1331-7. doi: 10.1007/s00134-011-2244-y. PMID: 21567109.
This diagnostic-accuracy study evaluated DRS in paediatric ICU at a tertiary university medical centre against multidisciplinary clinical gold-standard diagnosis. It reported sensitivity of 91.7% and specificity of 100% in 182 non-electively admitted critically ill children aged 1-17 years; instrument-completable subset.
At a glance
- Purpose
- Measurement of delirium severity
- Population
- Adult
- Setting
- General / acute hospital
- Time
- variable
- Items
- 10
- Score or threshold
- DRS ≥10
Format: The instrument records 10 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 DRS ≥10.
Evidence
Reported sensitivity and specificity
Later validation or evaluation · 1994 — pmid:8148634
- Denominator
- Reported source unit: 791 (analysis unit not fully reconciled)
- Reference standard
- DSM-III-R delirium diagnosis; rater independence and masking not confirmed from the accessible original record
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
- Also known as
- DRS
- Evidence summary
- multi
- Diagnostic-accuracy studies
- 5
- Reference standard
- DSM-III-R delirium diagnosis; rater independence and masking not confirmed from the accessible original record
- Citation
- Trzepacz PT, Baker RW, Greenhouse J A symptom rating scale for delirium Psychiatry research. 1988;23(1):89-97. PMID 3363018
Copyright and reuse
- 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.