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DRS: Delirium Rating Scale

1988

The original clinician-rated symptom scale that quantifies multiple parameters of delirium; forerunner of the DRS-R-98.

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.

Primary validation papers

5 identified diagnostic-accuracy papers

Other forms of validation are described in the evidence section. What is counted?

Large-scale clinical implementation

None identified in the scoped review.

None identified in the selected profile sources and the Penfold general-hospital review. This is not a completed search of all settings or later papers.

Training and instructions

Public training resources have not yet been confirmed in this review. Check the linked developer or original source for instructions.

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Tool and original sources

This record describes a method rather than a downloadable bedside form. The main source is linked below.

NIDUS information cards ↗

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.

    Open PubMed ↗
  • 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.

    Open PubMed ↗
Multiple DTA studies identifiedCore instrument family
Classification

Classification

Measurement of delirium severityDetailed phenomenological and/or neuropsychological assessment

A tool may belong to more than one category. Select a linked category to see other relevant profiles.

Evidence

Diagnostic-accuracy evidenceMultiple DTA studies identified

Reported sensitivity and specificity

Headline metric source

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
94%
Sensitivity
82%
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
Also known as
DRS
Evidence summary
multi
Diagnostic-accuracy evaluations
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
Download RIS ↗ Download BibTeX ↗

Primary validation studies

Distinct primary publications from the current diagnostic-accuracy audit. Reviews and repeated evaluations within one paper are not counted again. Overlapping cohorts have not all been reconciled. Read the counting rules and limitations.

Open 5 identified papers
  1. Rosen J, Sweet RA, Mulsant BH, Rifai AH, Pasternak R, Zubenko GS (1994). The Delirium Rating Scale in a psychogeriatric inpatient setting. The Journal of neuropsychiatry and clinical neurosciences.

    Reference category: other comparator or secondary accuracy evidence.

  2. Rockwood K, Goodman J, Flynn M, Stolee P (1996). Cross-validation of the Delirium Rating Scale in older patients. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

    Reference category: other comparator or secondary accuracy evidence.

  3. Grassi L, Caraceni A, Beltrami E, Borreani C, Zamorani M, Maltoni M, Monti M, Luzzani M, Mercadante S, De Conno F (2001). Assessing delirium in cancer patients: the Italian versions of the Delirium Rating Scale and the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale. Journal of pain and symptom management.

    Reference category: other comparator or secondary accuracy evidence.

  4. Adamis D, Treloar A, MacDonald AJ, Martin FC (2005). Concurrent validity of two instruments (the Confusion Assessment Method and the Delirium Rating Scale) in the detection of delirium among older medical inpatients. Age and ageing.

    Reference category: other comparator or secondary accuracy evidence.

  5. Janssen NJ, Tan EY, Staal M, Janssen EP, Leroy PL, Lousberg R, van Os J, Schieveld JN (2011). 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.

    Reference category: independent clinical reference.

Copyright and reuse
Information checked
2026-07-19

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

Base clinical review: 2026-07-29. Instrument description source check: 2026-09-05. Scope and limitations.