sspCAM-ICU: Severity Scale for the pCAM-ICU

2016

A paediatric ICU severity adaptation of pCAM-ICU, conventionally named sspCAM-ICU. It adds graded scoring to the pCAM-ICU framework and yields a 0-19 total.

At a glance

Purpose: Measurement of delirium severity
Population: Paediatric
Setting: Intensive care
Time: variable
Score or threshold: pCAM-ICU severity scale positive

Format: The sspCAM-ICU is a scored severity adaptation of pCAM-ICU for critically ill children with sufficient developmental ability for the parent assessment. The published total ranges from 0 to 19. The exact feature scoring should be taken from the source and authorised pCAM-ICU materials.

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.

Original paper

Original paperLuetz A, Gensel D, Müller J, Weiss B, Martiny V, Heinz A, et al. Validity of Different Delirium Assessment Tools for Critically Ill Children: Covariates Matter. Critical care medicine. 2016;44(11):2060-2069. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000001840. PMID: 27276343.
This paper reports the original validation of sspCAM-ICU. It reported sensitivity of 84.9% and specificity of 98% against an independent DSM-IV-TR clinical assessment.
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One DTA study identifiedVersion or adaptation

Classification

Measurement of delirium severity Assessment of delirium in children Use in intensive care units

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Evidence

Diagnostic-accuracy evidenceOne DTA study identified

Reported sensitivity and specificity

Headline metric source

Original/source study · 2016; pmid:27276343

Denominator: Reported source unit: 64 (analysis unit not fully reconciled)
Reference standard: Expert DSM-IV-TR delirium diagnosis

84.9%

Sensitivity

98%

Specificity

Earliest DTA evaluation identified in the current audit; see the linked source and methodological caveats.

More evidence and citation details

Full name: Severity Scale for the pCAM-ICU
Also known as: sspCAM-ICU, pCAM-ICU severity scale
Related profiles: pCAM-ICU
Evidence summary: single-DTA
Diagnostic-accuracy evaluations: 1
Reference standard: Expert DSM-IV-TR delirium diagnosis
Citation: Luetz A, Gensel D, Müller J, Weiss B, Martiny V, Heinz A, Wernecke KD, Spies C Validity of Different Delirium Assessment Tools for Critically Ill Children: Covariates Matter Critical care medicine. 2016;44(11):2060-2069. PMID 27276343

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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 1 identified paper

Luetz A, Gensel D, Müller J, Weiss B, Martiny V, Heinz A, Wernecke KD, Spies C (2016). Validity of Different Delirium Assessment Tools for Critically Ill Children: Covariates Matter. Critical care medicine.
Reference category: independent clinical reference.

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.

sspCAM-ICU: Severity Scale for the pCAM-ICU

At a glance

Primary validation papers

Large-scale clinical implementation