← All public profiles

DSI: Delirium Symptom Interview

1992

A structured interview developed for trained lay interviewers to assess seven major symptom domains of delirium in hospitalised patients.

At a glance

Purpose
Episodic assessment
Population
Adult
Setting
General / acute hospital
Time
approximately 10–15 min in the original report
Symptom domains
7 domains, assessed through a longer interview
Score or threshold
Study-defined symptom-based classification; see the original interview and case definition.

Format: The DSI combines patient questions, cognitive tasks and interviewer observations. Seven refers to the symptom domains, not seven questions. The original study used trained lay interviewers and a study-defined symptom-based case rule.

Primary validation papers

3 identified diagnostic-accuracy papers

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

Large-scale clinical implementation

Not yet reviewed.

A focused implementation review has not yet been completed for this profile.

Training and instructions

  • DSI form. Public instrument material checked on 5 September 2026. Follow the source’s version and permission conditions.
Start here

Tool and original sources

A source for the tool or its access information is linked below. Check the version and current terms before use, copying or adaptation.

View the hosted tool ↗ Search Google Images ↗ NIDUS information cards ↗

Original paper

  • Original paperAlbert MS, Levkoff SE, Reilly C, Liptzin B, Pilgrim D, Cleary PD, et al. The delirium symptom interview: an interview for the detection of delirium symptoms in hospitalized patients. Journal of geriatric psychiatry and neurology. 1992;5(1):14-21. doi: 10.1177/002383099200500103. PMID: 1571069.

    This is the original published source for DSI. It reported sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 80% against the study's independent clinical reference assessment.

    Open PubMed ↗
Multiple DTA studies identifiedCore instrument family
Classification

Classification

Episodic assessmentDetailed 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

Original/source study · 1992; pmid:1571069

Denominator
Reported source unit: 50 (analysis unit not fully reconciled)
Reference standard
Independent psychiatrist and neurologist assessment of DSM-III delirium symptom domains; a reference case required both physicians to rate at least one critical symptom possible, probable or definite
90%
Sensitivity
80%
Specificity

Original validation, n=50.

More evidence and citation details
Full name
Delirium Symptom Interview
Also known as
DSI
Evidence summary
multi
Diagnostic-accuracy evaluations
3
Reference standard
Independent psychiatrist and neurologist assessment of DSM-III delirium symptom domains; a reference case required both physicians to rate at least one critical symptom possible, probable or definite
Citation
Albert MS, Levkoff SE, Reilly C, Liptzin B, Pilgrim D, Cleary PD, Evans D, Rowe JW The delirium symptom interview: an interview for the detection of delirium symptoms in hospitalized patients Journal of geriatric psychiatry and neurology. 1992;5(1):14-21. PMID 1571069
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 3 identified papers
  1. Albert MS, Levkoff SE, Reilly C, Liptzin B, Pilgrim D, Cleary PD, Evans D, Rowe JW (1992). The delirium symptom interview: an interview for the detection of delirium symptoms in hospitalized patients. Journal of geriatric psychiatry and neurology.

    Reference category: independent clinical reference.

  2. Khurana PS, Sharma PS, Avasthi A (2002). Prevalence of delirium in geriatric hospitalized general medical population. Indian journal of psychiatry.

    Reference category: other comparator or secondary accuracy evidence.

  3. Yates C, Stanley N, Cerejeira JM, Jay R, Mukaetova-Ladinska EB (2009). Screening instruments for delirium in older people with an acute medical illness. Age and ageing.

    Reference category: other comparator or secondary accuracy evidence.

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.