sspCAM-ICU — Severity Scale for the pCAM-ICU

What this tool is and how to interpret its evidence

The Severity Scale for the pCAM-ICU, abbreviated sspCAM-ICU, is a paediatric intensive-care method for grading delirium severity. It is not simply a second name for pCAM-ICU: the parent instrument classifies delirium features, whereas this adaptation assigns graded values and produces a total from 0 to 19. It is intended for children developmentally able to complete the pCAM-ICU approach, including some who cannot speak because of critical illness or ventilation.

Luetz and colleagues evaluated the severity method alongside other paediatric delirium assessments in a prospective critical-care sample. Reported diagnostic discrimination was encouraging, but the cohort was small and performance varied with clinical and developmental covariates. The study does not justify treating the scale as universally interchangeable with CAPD, psCAM-ICU or specialist DSM assessment. Developmental delay, level of arousal and the feasibility of patient interaction remain important when selecting a paediatric tool.

The catalogue should use the canonical sspCAM-ICU name, identify it as a version within the pCAM-ICU family, and avoid adding it to an independent family count. Because it derives from CAM-family operational material, this profile deliberately stops at purpose, population, score range and evidence maturity. Readers should use the primary publication and authorised pCAM-ICU instructions for the exact administration and scoring method rather than attempting to reproduce it from a commentary page.