Raw 3D-CAM severity score: Raw 3D-CAM Delirium Severity Score

2020

An alternative 0-20 severity score formed by summing positive findings already collected during the 20 core 3D-CAM results. It is a severity version rather than a separate diagnostic instrument.

At a glance

Purpose: Measurement of delirium severity
Population: Adult
Setting: General / acute hospital
Time: derived from the approximately 3-minute parent 3D-CAM; no separate interview
Items: 20
Score or threshold: 0-20 severity range; no diagnostic threshold

Format: One point is added for each positive result among the 20 core results already collected during 3D-CAM. These comprise seven cognitive-test results, three patient symptom reports and ten interviewer observations. The protected prompts and operating rules are not reproduced here.

Training and instructions

Underlying 3D-CAM form, version 5.7. The parent assessment form. It is not a separate raw-severity scoring manual.

Start here

Tool and original sources

Copyright restrictions mean that a copy of Raw 3D-CAM severity score cannot be provided on this website. Use the official access page below.

Open the official tool page ↗ Open project website ↗ Read the full paper ↗

Original paper

Original paperVasunilashorn SM, Devinney MJ, Acker L, Jung Y, Ngo L, Cooter M, et al. A New Severity Scoring Scale for the 3-Minute Confusion Assessment Method (3D-CAM). Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 2020;68(8):1874-1876. doi: 10.1111/jgs.16538. PMID: 32479640.
This is the original published source for Raw 3D-CAM severity score. It is the main source for the method, its intended use and the evidence available at publication.
Open PubMed ↗

No eligible DTA study identifiedVersion or adaptation

Classification

Measurement of delirium severity Monitoring for new onset delirium Detailed phenomenological and/or neuropsychological assessment

A tool may belong to more than one category. Select a linked category to see other relevant profiles.

Evidence

Diagnostic-accuracy evidenceNo eligible DTA study identified

Reported sensitivity and specificity

not applicable

Sensitivity

not applicable

Specificity

The 0-20 raw severity score discriminated reference-standard delirium with AUC 0.950 in the reused parent cohort; no diagnostic threshold was proposed.

More evidence and citation details

Full name: Raw 3D-CAM Delirium Severity Score
Related profiles: 3D-CAM, 3D-CAM-S
Evidence summary: derivation-and-internal-validation
Reference standard: Independent clinical delirium reference interview used in the parent validation study
Citation: Vasunilashorn SM, Fick DM, Marcantonio ER, Schmitt EM, Inouye SK, Jones RN A new severity score for the 3-minute diagnostic interview for CAM-defined delirium Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 2020;68(8):1874-1876. PMID 32479640

Download RIS ↗ Download BibTeX ↗

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.

No eligible diagnostic-accuracy paper is currently included in this audit. This does not mean the tool has never been validated. The source paper and other evidence on this profile may concern severity, reliability or another measurement purpose.

Version: Raw 0-20 3D-CAM severity method reported in 2020; use with the current authorised 3D-CAM version
Rights holder: Hospital Elder Life Program (copyright); Aging Brain Center (permissions administrator)
Licence: ALL-RIGHTS-RESERVED-PERMISSION-REQUIRED
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.

Raw 3D-CAM severity score: Raw 3D-CAM Delirium Severity Score

At a glance

Primary validation papers

Large-scale clinical implementation