DTS: Delirium Triage Screen
2013The Delirium Triage Screen is a two-part, ultra-brief emergency-department high-sensitivity first-step screen covering arousal and attention. It is commonly paired with a more-specific follow-up assessment; a negative result does not exclude delirium or overrule clinical concern.
Classification
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Tool and original sources
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Original paper
- Original paperHan JH, Wilson A, Vasilevskis EE, Shintani A, Schnelle JF, Dittus RS, et al. Diagnosing delirium in older emergency department patients: validity and reliability of the delirium triage screen and the brief confusion assessment method. Annals of emergency medicine. 2013;62(5):457-465. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2013.05.003. PMID: 23916018.
This paper reports the original validation of DTS. It is the main source for the method, its intended use and the evidence available at publication.
At a glance
- Purpose
- Episodic assessment
- Population
- Adult
- Setting
- Emergency department
- Time
- <20 sec
- Items
- 2
- Score or threshold
- Altered LOC or ≥2 errors on 'LUNCH' backwards
Format: The instrument records 2 scored items or observations. This site classifies it under episodic assessment and ultra-brief bedside tools. It is intended for adult use in Emergency department. The stated administration time is <20 sec. The published result is recorded using Altered LOC or ≥2 errors on 'LUNCH' backwards.
- Strengths: Ultra-brief, high-sensitivity first step
- Limitations: Low specificity by design; pair with bCAM; a negative result does not exclude delirium or overrule clinical concern
Evidence
Reported sensitivity and specificity
Original validation, n=406; evaluated as a high-sensitivity first step.
More evidence and citation details
- Full name
- Delirium Triage Screen
- Related profiles
- bCAM, DTS/bCAM combination
- Evidence summary
- single
- Diagnostic-accuracy studies
- 1
- Reference standard
- DSM-IV-TR (psychiatrist)
- Citation
- Han JH, Wilson A, Vasilevskis EE, Shintani A, Schnelle JF, Dittus RS, Graves AJ, Storrow AB, Shuster J, Ely EW Diagnosing delirium in older emergency department patients: validity and reliability of the delirium triage screen and the brief confusion assessment method Annals of emergency medicine. 2013;62(5):457-465. PMID 23916018
Copyright and reuse
- Version
- 18 January 2021 revision
- 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.