Lighthouse-SA: Lighthouse sustained-attention test

2020

A smartphone-delivered test of awareness, focused attention and sustained attention developed for delirium-relevant cognitive assessment. The sustained-attention section was most informative, but the tool does not establish acute onset, fluctuation or cause.

Classification

Domain-specific or adjunctive measureCognitive tests designed for delirium

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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.

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Original paper

Original paperMeagher DJ, O'Connell H, Leonard M, Williams O, Awan F, Exton C, et al. Comparison of novel tools with traditional cognitive tests in detecting delirium in elderly medical patients. World journal of psychiatry. 2020;10(4):46-58. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v10.i4.46. PMID: 32399398.
This is the original published source for Lighthouse-SA. It reported sensitivity of 84.6% and specificity of 63.2% against a DSM-IV clinical assessment.
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Article PDF: CC BY-NC. This licence applies to the article PDF and does not grant rights to reproduce the tool.

One DTA study identifiedEmerging clinical record

At a glance

Purpose: Domain-specific or adjunctive measure
Population: Adult
Setting: General / acute hospital
Time: brief smartphone cognitive test; exact total completion time not reported
Score or threshold: Study-defined pass/fail performance for the sustained-attention component

Format: The Lighthouse test presents a standardised visual stimulus through an Android smartphone across three broad sections. This page describes domains and evidence only; the exact stimulus sequences and scoring procedure remain in the open primary article.

Evidence

Evidence maturityOne DTA study identified

Reported sensitivity and specificity

Headline metric source

Original/source study · 2020 — pmid:32399398

Denominator: Reported source unit: 180 (analysis unit not fully reconciled)
Reference standard: Full neuropsychiatric reference using DSM-IV and/or DRS-R98 ≥15

84.6%

Sensitivity

63.2%

Specificity

Performance of the sustained-attention component in a referred older inpatient sample

More evidence and citation details

Full name: Lighthouse sustained-attention test
Also known as: LH-SA, Lighthouse sustained attention
Related profiles: DelApp, DelBox
Evidence summary: single-cross-sectional-discrimination-study
Diagnostic-accuracy studies: 1
Reference standard: Full neuropsychiatric reference using DSM-IV and/or DRS-R98 ≥15
Citation: Meagher DJ, O'Connell H, Leonard M, Williams O, Awan F, Exton C, Tenorio M, O'Connor M, Dunne CP, Cullen W, McFarland J, Adamis D Comparison of novel tools with traditional cognitive tests in detecting delirium in elderly medical patients World journal of psychiatry. 2020;10(4):46-58. PMID 32399398

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Information checked: 2026-07-19

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