BIMS Assessment: Total Available Points
The Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) has a total of 15 available points, with scores categorized as 13-15 for intact cognition, 8-12 for moderate impairment, and 0-7 for severe impairment.
BIMS Structure and Scoring
The BIMS is a standardized cognitive assessment tool used primarily in healthcare settings to evaluate cognitive function, particularly in older adults. The assessment consists of three main components:
Temporal Orientation (0-5 points)
- Correctly stating the year (0-4 points)
- Correctly stating the month (0-1 point)
Word Repetition/Registration (0-3 points)
- Immediate recall of three words (1 point per word)
Recall (0-7 points)
- Delayed recall of the three words without cues (2 points per word)
- Recall with cues (1 point per word)
Clinical Significance and Interpretation
The BIMS score provides valuable information about a patient's cognitive status:
- 13-15 points: Cognitively intact
- 8-12 points: Moderate cognitive impairment
- 0-7 points: Severe cognitive impairment
Advantages of the BIMS
- Quick administration (typically 2-3 minutes)
- Minimal training required
- Standardized scoring system
- Useful for serial assessments to track cognitive changes over time
Common Pitfalls in BIMS Administration
- Failing to administer all three components
- Not allowing sufficient time for recall
- Providing cues too early in the recall section
- Misinterpreting scores without considering confounding factors like educational level, language barriers, or sensory impairments
When to Use BIMS
The BIMS is particularly useful in:
- Initial cognitive screening
- Monitoring cognitive changes over time
- Assessing response to interventions
- Documenting cognitive status for care planning
Unlike more complex neurological assessments such as the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) which focuses on consciousness level assessment with components for eye opening (1-4 points), verbal response (1-5 points), and motor response (1-6 points) 1, the BIMS specifically targets cognitive function assessment with its 15-point scale focused on orientation, registration, and recall.
The BIMS provides a standardized approach to cognitive assessment that can help guide clinical decision-making and care planning for patients with potential cognitive impairment.