Clinical Utility and Use of DSM–IV and ICD–10 Criteria and The Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale in Establishing a Diagnosis of Delirium After Cardiac Surgery

Authors evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of DSM–IV and ICD–10 criteria and the cutoff value of the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (MDAS) in diagnosing postoperative delirium in 260 cardiac surgery patients. Incidence of delirium diagnosed on the basis of DSM–IV and ICD–10 criteria, and with the use of the MDAS was 11.5%, 9.2%, and 6.5%, respectively. The DSM–IV criteria for delirium were found to be more inclusive than those of ICD–10. The cutoff point of 10 of the MDAS was optimal in relation to the presence or absence of delirium after cardiac surgery.