4AT - Rapid Clinical Test for Delirium
The 4AT is scored from 0-12
0 suggests no delirium and no moderate-severe cognitive impairment
1-3 suggests cognitive impairment but not delirium
4 or more suggests delirium
This includes patients who may be markedly drowsy (eg. difficult to rouse and/or obviously sleepy during assessment) or agitated/hyperactive. Observe the patient. If asleep, attempt to wake with speech or gentle touch on shoulder. Ask the patient to state their name and address to assist rating.
Age, date of birth, place (name of the hospital or building), current year.
Ask the patient: "Please tell me the months of the year in backwards order, starting at December." To assist initial understanding one prompt of "what is the month before December?" is permitted.
Evidence of significant change or fluctuation in: alertness, cognition, other mental function (eg. paranoia, hallucinations) arising over the last 2 weeks and still evident in last 24hrs