LSD-4: Letter and Shape Drawing test
2017A four-drawing visuoconstruction screen evaluated for delirium case-finding in older medical inpatients. It takes about one to two minutes and is a cognitive component test rather than a stand-alone clinical diagnosis.
Classification
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Tool and original sources
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Original paper
- Original paperWilliams OA, O'Connell H, Leonard M, Awan F, White D, McKenna F, et al. Development of the four-item Letter and Shape Drawing test (LSD-4): A brief bedside test of visuospatial function. Psychiatry research. 2017;247:317-322. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2016.12.004. PMID: 27951480.
This is the original published source for LSD-4. It is the main source for the method, its intended use and the evidence available at publication.
At a glance
- Purpose
- Domain-specific or adjunctive measure
- Population
- Adult
- Setting
- General / acute hospital
- Time
- approximately 1-2 min
- Items
- 4
- Score or threshold
- Total 0-4; 3 or less classified abnormal/positive in the 2020 delirium evaluation
Format: A four-drawing visuoconstruction screen completed in about one to two minutes. Each drawing contributes to a four-point total; the study classified scores of 3 or less as abnormal/positive. Use the open primary article for the drawings and exact scoring.
Evidence
Reported sensitivity and specificity
2020 delirium evaluation in 180 older medical inpatients; the 2017 paper is the canonical test-development source.
More evidence and citation details
- Full name
- Letter and Shape Drawing test
- Also known as
- LSD-4
- Evidence summary
- single
- Diagnostic-accuracy studies
- 1
- Reference standard
- Full neuropsychiatric reference using DSM-IV and/or DRS-R98 ≥15
- Citation
- Williams OA, et al. Development of the four-item Letter and Shape Drawing test (LSD-4): A brief bedside test of visuospatial function Psychiatry Research. 2017;247:317-322. PMID 27951480
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.