Terminology
Delirium: an acute change or fluctuation in mental status plus inattention, accompanied by either disorganized thinking or an altered level of consciousness.1
Agitation: an unpleasant state of extreme arousal, often associated with feelings of excitation, tension, confusion, or irritability.2
RASS: Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale - a 10 point scale with four levels of anxiety or agitation (+1 to +4 [combative]), one level to denote a calm and alert stat (0), and 5 levels of sedation (-1 to -5) culminating in unrousable (-5).3
SAS: Riker Sedation-Agitation Scale - a 7 point scale with 3 levels of agitation (Score 5-7) ranging from agitated to dangerous agitation, 3 levels of sedation (Score 1-3) ranging from unarousable to sedated. A score of 4 is used to denote a calm and cooperative patient.4
Agitation: an unpleasant state of extreme arousal, often associated with feelings of excitation, tension, confusion, or irritability.2
RASS: Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale - a 10 point scale with four levels of anxiety or agitation (+1 to +4 [combative]), one level to denote a calm and alert stat (0), and 5 levels of sedation (-1 to -5) culminating in unrousable (-5).3
SAS: Riker Sedation-Agitation Scale - a 7 point scale with 3 levels of agitation (Score 5-7) ranging from agitated to dangerous agitation, 3 levels of sedation (Score 1-3) ranging from unarousable to sedated. A score of 4 is used to denote a calm and cooperative patient.4
References:
- Ouimet et al. 2007. Incidence, risk factors and consequences of ICU delirium. Intensive Care Medicine; 33:66-73.
- MedlinePlus [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); [updated 2005 Aug 12; cited 2005 August 11]. Available from: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/.
- Sessler, Gosnell, Grap,et al.The Richmond Agitation–Sedation Scale: Validity and Reliability in Adult Intensive Care Unit Patients. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2002; 166:1338–1344.
- Riker RR et al. Prospective evaluation of the Sedation-Agitation Scale for adult critically ill patients. Crit Care Med. 1999 Jul;27(7):1325-9.