The Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) is a diagnostic tool developed to allow physicians and nurses to identify delirium in the healthcare setting.
[citation needed] The CAM rates four diagnostic features, including acute onset and fluctuating course, inattention, disorganized thinking, and altered level of consciousness.
The CAM short form assesses four features: 1. acute onset or fluctuating course, 2. inattention, 3. disorganized thinking, and 4. altered level of consciousness.
The CAM-long form includes the short-form features and adds disorientation, memory impairment, perceptual disturbances, psychomotor agitation or retardation, and altered sleep-wake cycle.
Delirium is considered present based on the CAM diagnostic algorithm: presence of (acute onset or fluctuating course -AND‐ inattention) ‐AND EITHER‐ (disorganized thinking or altered level of consciousness) (Table 1).