S-PTD: Stanford Proxy Test for Delirium
2018A 12-item nurse proxy screen based on routine observations during a shift. It is intended for end-of-shift delirium case-finding rather than direct patient interview.
Classification
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Tool and original sources
No direct copy is linked here. The original paper and a Google Images search are available below. Image results may be unofficial; check the version and source before use.
Original and selected diagnostic-accuracy papers
- Original paperAlosaimi FD, Alghamdi A, Alsuhaibani R, Alhammad G, Albatili A, Albatly L, et al. Validation of the Stanford Proxy Test for Delirium (S-PTD) among critical and noncritical patients. Journal of psychosomatic research. 2018;114:8-14. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2018.08.009. PMID: 30314583.
This is the original published source for S-PTD. It reported sensitivity of 82.7% and specificity of 95.3% against an independent DSM-5 clinical assessment.
- Selected diagnostic-accuracy studyMaldonado JR, Sher YI, Benitez-Lopez MA, Savant V, Garcia R, Ament A, et al. A Study of the Psychometric Properties of the "Stanford Proxy Test for Delirium" (S-PTD): A New Screening Tool for the Detection of Delirium. Psychosomatics. 2020;61(2):116-126. doi: 10.1016/j.psym.2019.11.009. PMID: 31926650.
This diagnostic-accuracy study evaluated S-PTD in mixed inpatient clinical units against independent neuropsychiatric assessment. It reported sensitivity of 80.72% and specificity of 90.37% in 199 analysed hospitalised adults; 43 had delirium.
- Selected diagnostic-accuracy studyInfante S, Behn A, González M, Pintor L, Franco E, Araya P, et al. Reliability and Validity of the Spanish Adaptation of the Stanford Proxy Test for Delirium in Two Clinical Spanish-Speaking Communities. Journal of the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry. 2024;65(2):136-147. doi: 10.1016/j.jaclp.2023.09.004. PMID: 37806639.
This diagnostic-accuracy study evaluated S-PTD in medical-surgical and intensive-care services in Barcelona and Santiago against an independent DSM-5 clinical assessment. It reported sensitivity of 94% and specificity of 97% in 123 hospitalised adults.
At a glance
- Purpose
- Episodic assessment
- Population
- Adult
- Setting
- General / acute hospital, Intensive care
- Time
- approximately 1 min at the end of a shift
- Items
- 12
- Score or threshold
- Total 0-20; positive at 3 or more
Format: A 12-item nurse-completed proxy assessment scored at the end of a shift from routine observations. The total ranges from 0 to 20 and the original study evaluated a threshold of 3 or more.
Evidence
Reported sensitivity and specificity
Original/source study · 2018 — pmid:30314583
- Denominator
- Reported source unit: 288 (analysis unit not fully reconciled)
- Reference standard
- Consultation-liaison psychiatrist clinical neuropsychiatric evaluation using DSM-5 delirium criteria
Original study of 288 hospitalised adults against expert DSM-5 assessment.
More evidence and citation details
- Full name
- Stanford Proxy Test for Delirium
- Also known as
- S-PTD
- Evidence summary
- multi-study
- Diagnostic-accuracy studies
- 3
- Reference standard
- Expert neuropsychiatric DSM-5 assessment
- Citation
- Alosaimi FD, et al. A novel approach to the detection of delirium in hospitalized patients: the Stanford Proxy Test for Delirium (S-PTD) Journal of Psychosomatic Research. 2018;114:8-14. PMID 30314583
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.