The Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) is a diagnostic tool developed to allow non-psychiatric physicians and nurses to identify delirium in the healthcare setting. It was designed to be brief (less than 5 minutes to perform) and based on criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). It includes four diagnostic criteria from the third edition of DSM (DSM-III-R): acute onset and fluctuating course, inattention, disorganized thinking, and altered level of consciousness. The CAM requires that a short cognitive test and interview is performed before it is completed.

The CAM has gained widespread use since its development in 1990. The tool was constructed through literature review and expert opinion and validated by psychiatrists using the DSM-III-R criteria for delirium. It has been translated into more than 20 languages and adapted for use in multiple other settings, including the ICU (CAM-ICU), nursing homes (NH-CAM), and Emergency department (B-CAM). The CAM has also been used in research settings. It has been found to predict poor outcomes in patients.