CAM-ICU is used to screen for what condition in critically ill patients?

• A. Delirium in critically ill patients
• B. Pain in ICU
• C. Depression
• D. Neuromuscular weakness

Answer: (A)

CAM-ICU screens for delirium in critically ill patients. Delirium is an acute, fluctuating disturbance of attention and awareness that ICU patients can develop from illness, medications, or sleep disruption. The CAM-ICU looks for four elements: an acute change or fluctuating course, inattention, and either altered level of consciousness or disorganized thinking. If the patient shows an acute change or fluctuation plus inattention and one of the other two features, delirium is present. This tool is specifically designed for ICU use, including patients who are intubated and nonverbal, and it can be performed quickly at the bedside after brief training. It’s not intended to assess pain, depression, or neuromuscular weakness, which are evaluated with other instruments.