CAM

Q: The Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) to identify delirium is a better tool than Mini-Mental State Examination? 

A) True 
B) False



Answer: A

Developed almost 30 years ago and though it seems simple The Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) is extremely useful to identify patients who have delirium. It is found to be most accurate among all instruments available. Mini-Mental State Examination is found to be the least accurate.  CAM is found to have a sensitivity of 94 to 100 percent and a specificity of 90 to 95 percent.

For ICUs a variant of CAM is developed call CAM-ICU. 

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References:

1. Inouye SK, van Dyck CH, Alessi CA, et al. Clarifying confusion: the confusion assessment method. A new method for detection of delirium. Ann Intern Med 1990; 113:941. 

2. Wong CL, Holroyd-Leduc J, Simel DL, Straus SE. Does this patient have delirium?: value of bedside instruments. JAMA 2010; 304:779. 

3. Ely EW, Inouye SK, Bernard GR, et al. Delirium in mechanically ventilated patients: validity and reliability of the confusion assessment method for the intensive care unit (CAM-ICU). JAMA 2001; 286:2703. 

4. Luetz A, Heymann A, Radtke FM, et al. Different assessment tools for intensive care unit delirium: which score to use? Crit Care Med 2010; 38:409. 

5. Mitasova A, Kostalova M, Bednarik J, et al. Poststroke delirium incidence and outcomes: validation of the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU). Crit Care Med 2012; 40:484.